AN INMATE at HMP Berwyn has had his sentence extended by 25 weeks following a "brawl" which left a prison officer feeling unsafe and shaken.

Lucas Troy Needham was jailed last year after reaching 130mph as he fled from police on a dual carriageway with a seven-year-old boy in his car.

Needham, then aged 26 and of Linden Avenue in Connah’s Quay, was handed a two-and-a-half year sentence.

Roughly two months before being due for release on license, the now 27-year-old was back before Mold Crown Court on Wednesday after having admitted to assaulting an officer at HMP Berwyn.

Jemma Gordon, prosecuting, told the court the incident happened on October 9 last year.

Needham had been approached by two prison officers - Sophie Humphreys and Cameron Pugh - who spotted him outside a classroom.

Asked for his name, Needham asked why the officers wanted it and tried to walk past them. He then became more aggressive, Ms Gordon said.

Officer Pugh gave Needham a direct order to return to the classroom, but he tried to shoulder his way past the officers instead.

When trying to restrain him, officer Pugh felt teeth near his right hand and pulled away fearing for his safety.

Both officers had to strike Needham to get him under control, the court heard, as he was attempting to bite and spit at them. Officer Pugh sustained injuries including a bruised finger and a swollen knee.

In a victim statement he said he was left feeling anxious and more cautious about dealing with prisoners.

He said although it did not leave him with lasting effects, the incident played on his mind afterwards and he didn't expect to have to tolerate such behaviour as part of his job.

At interview, Ms Gordon said, Needham claimed he had been acting in self defence.

Oliver King, defending, said: "Mr Needham has ADHD and suffers anxiety - previously when he'd been in the classroom and workshop this was recognised by his tutor, who knew something of his background. "There was an arrangement where he would be allowed to go into the corridor to take a breather and use the toilet.

"There prison officers in the corridor didn't appreciate that arrangement and he is not a good communicator. He became frustrated and when the prison officers struck him he retaliated.

"He accepts he should have done what he was told.

"Having viewed the stills, it is clear the officers are quite heavy handed with him, both admitting striking him in the face at different times.

"Thankfully neither of the officers suffered long-lasting injuries. The whole thing could have been handled better than it was.

"It is regrettable that it escalated."

Mr Recorder Gregory Bull QC told Needham: "It may be that you regard what the officers did as heavy handed, but you were meant to comply.

"Had you complied, this situation would not have got out of hand. You and the officers would not have been injured.

"Mr Pugh, who was just doing his job, found himself at the centre of an unpleasant brawl. "He suffered unpleasant, albeit not serious injuries - they were such that they have shaken him.

"He now feels unsafe in his place of work."

Needham received a 25 week sentence, to be served consecutively to his ongoing one, and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128.