A prisoner has been jailed for 10 years after he launched a vicious “choreographed” attack on another inmate.

Tony Beaumont was shown on CCTV cameras creeping up on Wayne Williams as he sat at a table in Rochester Prison and plunging a plastic knife into his neck.

Beaumont immediately turned tail and ran, pursued by Williams with the blade still embedded in his neck.

He was rushed to a London hospital, where the knife had to be surgically removed.

Beaumont, of no fixed address, denied attempted murder but admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutor Andrew Espley described the security film of the attack on February 7 last year as “unforgettable footage”.

Beaumont, 39, had stated in a basis of plea - not accepted by the prosecution: “I only wanted to perforate his cheek. I didn’t foresee the knife would go in as far as it did.”

James Marsland, defending, submitted the wounding was “not serious in the context”, adding the victim left hospital the next day.

“I see,” replied Judge Michael Carroll. “Well, I disagree. He was left with this knife sticking in his neck and, in my judgement, it is a serious injury.”

Beaumont had since finished serving his previous sentence. Williams was in jail for wounding with intent.

"This was clearly a very nasty attack, which could have had a potentially fatal outcome for the victim in this case..." - Det Con Stuart Clayton

Mr Marsland said Beaumont had a drug addict mother and was born a heroin addict as a result. He spent his early years in foster homes and fell into crime.

He suffered from ADHD and post traumatic stress disorder “not helped by substance abuse”.

“He says he was vulnerable,” added Mr Marsland. “He failed to get himself segregated. He says his aim was not his neck. It was misjudgement caused by the force he used.”

But the judge said: “I am absolutely satisfied this was choreographed with premeditation and careful forethought going into it. The camera doesn’t lie. It is what everyone can see happened.”

Other inmates played a part, he said, in distracting the victim so that he would look away from Beaumont.

“You swung your arm and used a considerable amount of force,” Judge Carroll told him. “I am satisfied you were aiming for his neck.”

The judge said he did not consider it necessary to imposed an extended sentence for public protection.

But he added: “The courts cannot be tolerant of offences of violence perpetrated by one prisoner on another.”

After sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Stuart Clayton said: "This was clearly a very nasty attack, which could have had a potentially fatal outcome for the victim in this case.

"There is no doubt there was clear intention to cause significant harm in what was very obviously a premeditated attack.

"I am pleased the jury were able to see this clearly as a result of the evidence put before them and Beaumont will now serve a substantial period of time behind bars."

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