9 Jailed for smuggling phones and drugs into prison
Prisoner assaults killer with a toilet brush – In a recent incident at HMP Shotts in Lanarkshire, a prisoner, Ryan Coutts, aged 35, attacked another inmate, John Sharp, using a kettle filled with boiling water and a sharpened toilet brush. The altercation, which took place in the prison, was quickly intervened by prison guards who managed to separate the two.
Coutts, who was already serving a four-year sentence for a previous offense, confronted Sharp in the prison. He first threw boiling water at Sharp and then chased him with the improvised weapon. Fortunately, Sharp did not sustain any serious injuries from the attack, suffering only skin redness.
This incident led to additional legal consequences for Coutts. He appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court, where he admitted to the assault and possession of the weapon. The court, presided over by Sheriff Colin Dunipace, handed Coutts an additional 12-month sentence, which will commence after his current term. Coutts’ earliest release date is now set for 2030, and he has been transferred to HMP Addiewell.
John Sharp, the victim of the attack, is serving a 15-year sentence for the murder of his 78-year-old father in 2018. The case highlights ongoing concerns about violence and the use of improvised weapons in prisons, underscoring the need for effective management and security measures in these facilities to ensure the safety of both inmates and staff.
