Inmate jailed for lashing out during 'crisis'

Friday 06 March 2020

A former inmate who lashed out at a prison officer during a mental health crisis has been sentenced to another year behind bars.

45-year-old Christopher Henry Hall today appeared in Jersey’s Royal Court to be sentenced for the incident which took place while he was harming himself in his prison cell.

Crown Advocate Emma Hollywood, prosecuting, told the Court that on 22 August last year, Hall had raised an alert to tell prison officers that he had self-harmed. 

Officers – including a Prison Health Care Officer – were sent to the cell to assist Hall, who was cutting himself with a razor that he was entitled to have in order to shave. 

Pictured: Christopher Hall was a serving prisoner at the time of the incident.

When the door to his cell was opened, the prosecutor told the Court that Hall “came out of his cell and moved towards the officers aggressively, waving his arms around and holding a razor in his hands".

He swore at the officers and “swung at” one of them with the hand he had the razor in.

The Crown Advocate recounted that “because [Hall’s] arms and hands were covered in blood, as he swung towards [the officer], his blood sprayed onto [the officer], covering his arms and shirt".

Crown Advocate Hollywood added that the officer “could also taste blood in his mouth".

Despite this, the officer suffered no injuries.

Inviting the court to impose a 12-month prison sentence, the prosecuting advocate said that the officer had to get repeated blood tests to ensure he hadn’t contracted an infection from his contact with the defendant’s blood. 

The Court also heard that the officer suffered from anxiety for 25 weeks. 

Hall’s legal representative, Advocate James Bell, however, focused on the context of the incident – that his client was in the midst of a mental health-related episode. 

Pictured: The case was heard in the island's Royal Court.

Noting that Hall is “genuinely remorseful for his actions” and that he has already personally apologised to the prison officer involved, Advocate Bell reminded the court that this took place whilst the former inmate “was self-harming in his cell”.

He highlighted that Hall “did not make physical contact with” the officer, nor did the guard “suffer any physical injury”. Advocate Bell also described Hall’s gestures towards the officer as “spur of the moment”.

The defence lawyer told the Court that at the time of this incident, Hall was “at a particularly low ebb” and that “he was struggling with his mental health".

Advocate Bell said that Hall “felt out of control at the time of the assault” and he often finds himself getting “overwhelmed” on account of his “social anxiety” and reacts to situations “inappropriately”.

The Court heard that Hall has since, for the first time, received a diagnosis of severe personality disorder. 

Expressing the hope that the court would pass a sentence that would allow for Hall to start accessing the help he needs in prison and then be able to continue with those programmes when he’s back in the community, Advocate Bell said his client is “much better placed now to engage with the help that is on offer".

Handing down the Court’s decision, Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae, presiding, remarked upon Hall’s existing criminal record, saying: “...Even by the standards of this court, [it] is exceptional."

Noting that the Court has a duty to protect prison officers, the Deputy Bailiff said that “they have a difficult job” and it “needs to be understood by prisoners that if they an assault an officer” they can expect “severe punishment".

Pictured: The Court imposed a 12-month prison sentence.

The case was heard by Jurats Jane Ronge and Pamela Pitman, who ultimately agreed with the crown that Hall should be sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.

Addressing Hall directly, Mr MacRae QC said: “We hope that this time in custody is an opportunity for you to receive some help in a stable environment."

The court also hoped that Hall could “make use of the help made available to [him] by the probation service".

Despite the defendant’s extensive record, the Deputy Bailiff advised him that “it’s never too late” to reintegrate into the community. 

To this, Hall replied: “I totally understand that,” before he was taken away by custody officers to begin his 12-month prison term.