A prison inmate serving life for murder had his sentence extended after a knife attack on a prison officer.

Cambridgeshire police say that Moustapha Dia (28) who was jailed for life for murdering his sister-in-law, grabbed the prison officer at HMP Whitemoor into a headlock and began stabbing him to the head, face and neck with a plastic knife.

Police say that Dia had approached the prison officer as he was locking doors on the wing of HMP Whitemoor, near March.

A police spokesperson said: “Dia whispered something to the officer, then quickly grabbed him into a headlock and began stabbing him to the head, face and neck with a plastic knife.

“The attack only stopped when other prison officers managed to intervene and disarm Dia.”

The victim was taken to Peterborough City Hospital, where he was treated for concussion and several cuts to his face and neck.

Police say the attack took place at about 2pm on October 19, 2024.

Dia denied the charges and stood trial at Huntingdon Law Courts in January, where he was found guilty of being in possession of an offensive weapon in prison and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Police say that Dia had four years added onto his existing life sentence at the same court on March 12

Afterwards, DC Emma Purser, who investigated, said: “This was a ferocious and cowardly attack by Dia, who targeted a prison officer much smaller in stature than him.

“Luckily the officer was only left with superficial injuries, but the intent was there to do much worse.

“There is no doubt that prison officers do a difficult job in challenging circumstances, and this attack will no doubt have a lasting psychological impact on the victim, who was just trying to do his job.

“This level of violence is completely unacceptable and I am pleased that Dia has faced justice for his actions despite denying the charges.”