A thug who ended a prison officer’s career when he attacked him with a metal tray had been jailed for joining rioting gangs in London in the summer of 2011.

Nasir Muhsen was serving six-and-a-half years at Rochester Prison after businesses were ransacked in the city.

It was revealed the then 18-year-old asylum seeker had been housed in a £3 million flat in Kensington.

He and his family were given a £6,000-a-month basement flat in a Victorian mansion block near Earls Court by the council.

After being put up in the luxurious apartment having sought asylum in the UK from Iraq, the family reportedly trashed the home and were evicted for not paying their subsidised rent.

He claimed he took part in the riots because he was penniless and could not afford to buy food.

Muhsen, now 23, was due to be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday for causing grievous bodily harm with intent to prison officer Steven Forster.

But sentence was adjourned for a psychiatric report because of concerns about his mental health.

"It had a devastating impact in terms of the victim's career, that has come to an end" - judge Julian Smith

Having served his sentence, he jumped bail during his trial for the prison officer attack at Maidstone Crown Court and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

CCTV footage of the attack on July 17, 2015 showed the prison officer leaning into Muhsen’s cell and then being propelled backwards before collapsing on the floor.

“My hands had just made contact with his shoulder,” he told the jury.

“I got knocked back a fraction and then I pushed back.

“The last thing I can remember is being knocked unconscious.”

He suffered facial fractures and needed metal plates inserted.

Mr Forster, who said he ran the prison for the governor during the day, said Muhsen, of Northolt, Middlesex, threatened other prisoners and spat at them.

He denied the charge but was convicted.

Mr Forster was forced to retire from the prison service as a result of the assault.

Andrew Fitch-Holland, defending, said he had grave concerns about his client’s mental state. He talked about his mind being controlled while in prison.

“These are beliefs sincerely held by him,” he said.

"His repeated words are: 'Will somebody help me. Please help me'."

Adjourning sentence until September 9, Judge Julian Smith said there would either be a substantial prison sentence or if Muhsen was found to be mentally unwell, there would be a hospital order.

“Bluntly, we are looking at an offence where a weapon is used to inflict catastrophic injury in terms of its consequences,” he said.

“It was an unpleasant injury and had a devastating impact in terms of the victim’s career, that has come to an end.”

Muhsen wept and shook in the dock before being remanded in custody.