A snarling prisoner who gleefully boasted about tasting the flesh of one of several jailers he sank his teeth into has been jailed for six years.

John Schock, pictured right, declared after the terrifying attack: "Whoever's hand I bit I have still got skin in my mouth and it tastes lovely."

Imposing an extended sentence for public protection on the 23-year-old lorry driver's son, Judge Philip Statman told him: "You seem to have had a sadistic pleasure in taunting those you had bitten.

"For someone who is comparatively small in terms of stature, you were showing what I hope I accurately describe as superhuman strength."

Schock, of no fixed address, went on to viciously bite four other prison officers after three similar attacks at other prisons.

He had denied wounding Keith Coombs with intent at Rochester Young Offenders' Institution in June 2010 and assaulting Aaron Fill, causing actual bodily harm, and assaulting Russell Webb at Elmley Prison, Sheppey, in June and July 2011.

He was convicted and sentenced over a TV link to his latest prison because it was considered to be too dangerous to let him appear even in a secure dock at court.

Maidstone Crown Court heard each time officers entered Schock's cell they had to be armed with shields and wear protective clothing.

Mr Coombs described the "intense pain" he felt as Schock bit between into his left hand and took a chunk out of it.

Inmate John Schock bite a guard at Rochester Young Offenders' Institution

Schock, who was excluded from school at the age of four, was again on a segregation unit when he attacked more officers in two separate incidents at Elmley the following year.

The other attacks were at Long Lartin and Frankland prisons, in Worcestershire, in February and March last year.

He admitted one offence of inflicting grievous bodily harm and three of assault causing actual bodily harm.

One victim described how he could feel Schock trying to bite through his thigh. He was also bitten on the arm. Another officer was off work for eight weeks.

Schock, whose previous convictions include biting police officers and the ear of a police dog, will serve two thirds of the sentence before being considered for release. He will be on licence for a further three years at the end of the six-year term.

Judge Philip Statman told Schock: "Your perspective during the trial was that you had been picked upon. You were trying to cultivate a reputation for yourself.

"If I passed consecutive sentences, you would be going away for decades. You still pose a serious risk to prison officers and the community as a whole.

"An extended sentence will punish you and also give you hope for the future."

He added: "I very much hope the two of us will never ever meet again in this way. Remember this: Life is precious. There is absolutely no reason why you should not behave yourself."