AN INMATE at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham lay in wait for two prison officers and hurled human faeces and urine at them.

It went all over their faces and body, Mold Crown Court was told.

The previous day defendant Zackery Griffiths, 25, of Gelli Road at Llanelli, had been caught with an illegal mobile phone.

Then on November 11 two officers were on their way to answer a cell bell by another inmate but Griffiths was waiting for them, crouched down by a yellow mop bucket.

As Janine Smith and Chris Wadsworth got to the top of some stairs he threw the contents of the bucket at them.

It went on the female officer’s hair, head and neck area and the male officer ended up with faeces in his eye.

Griffiths was said to be laughing and the officers had to go through “a walk of shame” past inmates to go and clean themselves.

Griffiths, serving a 52 month prison sentence for drugs offences which was imposed at Swansea Crown Court, received a consecutive 22 month sentence.

He admitted two charges of unlawfully and maliciously administering a noxious thing, namely excreta and urine, with intent to injure; common assault and possessing a mobile phone inside a prison without authority.

Judge Huw Rees said a mobile phone was a much prized item in prison because it could give unlimited and unmonitored access to others outside prison.

They could be used to harass, intimidate and interfere with the course of justice and in extreme cases to plan escapes and other criminal enterprises.

Having such a prohibited item could affect the good order, and discipline within a prison and destabilise the regime of such an institution.

The following day he caused serious disruption when he threw excretia and urine into the faces of two prison officers.

It was “base, degrading and offensive behaviour”, the judge said, which demeaned the officers concerned.

The sentences had to have a deterrent element to them, he said.

Prosecutor Emmalyne Downing said Griffiths – who appeared at Mold Crown Court via a live television link from HM Prison Stoke Heath in Shropshire– had in April of last year received a 52 month prison sentence for a drugs conspiracy

Prison officer Janine Smith saw an item being exchanged on November 10. He tried to ignore her and walk away but she blocked his path.

He refused to show what he had, was searched and the phone was recovered.

The following day at 2.15pm she realised he had not had his association time, asked him if he wanted to come out of his cell, and when he said he did she unlocked his cell door.

About 45 minutes later there was a cell bell from another prisoner and the two officers went to see him.

It was then the attack happened and after throwing the contents at them he threw the bucket as well.

The female officer told how she could immediately smell the urine and faeces.

He was laughing and the female officer went to a staff toilet to clean herself up and had to walk past other inmate to do so.

But it was a small space, she could not clean herself, and she waited in a distressed state for someone to come in

Another officer then brought her an emergency cleaning kit including a change of clothes.

That evening she could not settle, had multiple showers but “could still smell it”.

She could not sleep, was itching and scratching and said it felt disgusting.

It had changed her attitude to work and felt that she could not be so accommodating in the future, she said.

The male officer told how it felt horrendous, saw other inmates laugh at them and described the walk of shame as he left, which he never wanted to repeat.

He had to clean himself up but had faeces in his eye. He used an eye wash, did not feel clean and kept smelling it.

The officer went to hospital where he had injections and was worried for 12 weeks before he got the all clear that he could have an infection.

Miss Downing said CCTV showed a number of men going in and out of Griffiths' cell before the incident occurred and he was looking out for the officers before they entered the community area.

He placed the yellow bucket near the stairs waiting for them to walk up.

Griffiths had previous convictions for 99 offences including a number of assaults on police officers.

Barrister Ashanti-Jade Walton, defending, said Griffiths was under no illusions. He knew he faced yet another prison sentence.

There was no justification for his behaviour. “There is no escaping the fact that it is an extremely unpleasant offence,” she said.

He had indicated his guilty pleas at the magistrates court in March.

Griffiths appreciated his behaviour needed to be addressed.

After moving to Stoke Heath he had a job five days a week and often worked overtime.

“He wants to express his remorse,"said Miss Walton.

"In March he did send a letter to the prison addressed to the officers expressing just how sorry he was.”