AN INMATE at HMP Berwyn stabbed a prison officer so hard with a pen that part of it was left in his face, a court heard.

Evan Williams, of no fixed abode, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court via video link on Tuesday.

The 47-year-old, formerly of Bangor, had previously admitted wounding George Roberts in an incident which took place at the prison on December 16 last year.

Owen Edwards, prosecuting, told the court Williams had been one day away from his release following a three year sentence at the prison.

He’d been repeatedly pressing his call buzzer, asking the attending officers “pointless questions.”

On one of these occasions, Officer Roberts responded and entered the cell.

Williams was shouting and appeared “hyperactive.”

He was told to sit down, but instead he lunged at the officer, who felt a blow to his face - believing it initially to have been a punch.

Officer Roberts then realised he’d been stabbed with a biro.

Remnants of the pen were “sticking out of his cheek.”

Williams was restrained and the officer was taken to hospital, where the remainder of the pen was removed under local aesthetic.

When interviewed, Williams claimed he’d acted in self defence, stating he had not received help for his mental health.

In a victim impact statement, read out to the the court, Officer Roberts said the attack was “out of the blue” and had left him worried and cautious.

“He goes to work to look after the prisoners and not to be assaulted by them,” Mr Edwards said.

Simon Rogers, defending, said: “This is a defendant who has a long history of contact with mental health services, predominantly in a prison setting.

“The diagnoses in his case have been difficult, ranging from personality disorder to drug induced psychosis and schizophrenia.

“It seems this defendant is institutionalised. There is evidence of remorse for his actions.”

Judge Rhys Rowlands described the attack as “vicious” and unprovoked.

He told Williams: “One might have hoped you’d have been working towards your release date on December 17, not creating problems.

“You stabbed him with a pen so hard it broke in his face and he had to go to hospital to have a minor procedure to have that removed.

“It has been very unsettling and worrying for him.

“It has resulted in you being transferred from Wrexham to Cardiff, quite a distance from your home in Bangor.”

Judge Rowlands handed Williams a 21 month custodial sentence.