A prisoner caused another inmate serious facial wounds by repeatedly smashing a cup in his face, a court heard.

Michael Eyers attacked John Stewart in his cell at Elmley Prison, Eastchurch, because he believed he had taken his toiletries.

Now, Eyres, from Medway, has been convicted of wounding with intent and could be facing an indefinite jail sentence for public protection.

The victim told Maidstone Crown Court he had been in his cell eating lunch on June 15 last year when Eyres, 43, burst in.

“My cousin had pointed him out to me and said to stay away from him because he was a nasty piece of work,” said Mr Stewart.

“He punched me to the top of my head, causing me to fall back onto my bed. He grabbed my china cup and repeatedly smashed it into my face.

“I didn’t know what happened because I had blood in my eyes and couldn’t see. The cup broke. I had bits embedded in my skull.

“I had my hands up, trying to protect myself. As it was going on, I could hear someone enter the cell, saying: ‘Mickey, leave it – that’s enough.’”

He recognised the voice as the prisoner in the next cell to him. He managed to get out and go down the landing, where he collapsed.

Prison officer Tracey Hudson said the victim appeared to be fitting for a few seconds. She applied a towel to his wounds. She said he kept repeating: “I am going to die.”

He was taken to Medway Hospital and treated for his injuries, including a broken nose. He was transferred to the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead for specialist treatment.

“I was knocked out completely to get the china taken out of my skull,” he added.

Eyres, formerly of Jutland Close, Allhallows, now of no fixed address, denied the charge, claiming he was not responsible for the attack.

He was in March last year jailed for 21 months for false imprisonment, assault causing actual bodily harm, outraging public decency and common assault.

He was sentenced to five years in 1997 for wounding a man with intent in Chatham.

Judge Michael Lawson, QC, adjourned sentence until June 17.