Jail term for inmate extended after attacking prison officer with metal pole at HMP Peterborough

Ben Mash, 31, was involved in an altercation with another prisoner at HMP Peterborough in Saville Road, on 29 October 2019.

When a prison officer went to intervene, Mash hit him with a metal pole, causing a cut to the man’s head which required hospital treatment.

With the help of additional officers, the situation was brought under control.

After the incident Mash was transferred to a different prison and the other man involved in the initial altercation was taken to the segregation unit.

Mash replied no comment to all questions in interview, but later went on to admit assault causing actual bodily harm and unauthorised possession in of an offensive weapon in prison.

On Tuesday (20 July) at Ipswich Crown Court Mash, who was previously of no fixed abode but from Colchester in Essex, was sentenced to an additional 28 months in prison.

Of this, 18 months related to a separate charge of administering a noxious substance at another prison.

DC Lucy Carter said: “The prison officer was simply trying to do his job by stopping the altercation from escalating, so to attack him in this way is despicable.

“Prison officers work hard under what, at times, can be challenging circumstances. They deserve to be able to do their job without being assaulted like this.”