Murderer causes prison officer to have brain bleed

A convicted murderer has been given a two-year and eight-month consecutive sentence after he attacked a prison officer and left him with a bleed on the brain.

Jordan Crowley, 26, was let out of his cell to see a nurse at HMP Whitemoor near March, Cambridgeshire, on the condition he returned straight away, police said.

After 20 minutes an officer found him in the gym and told Crowley to return to his cell. Crowley refused and punched the officer, causing him to fall and hit his head.

Crowley was sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court on Thursday after admitting grievous bodily harm without intent. In 2019, he was part of a gang that stabbed 23-year-old Reece Ottaway to death in Northampton.

For that murder, he was jailed for a minimum of 34 years.

After the prison officer attack on 14 March, Crowley was sprayed with PAVA and led away.

The victim was taken to Peterborough City Hospital before being transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. He underwent surgery and remained in hospital for three months.

Det Con Emma Purser said: "The prison officer was acting professionally and trying to reason with Crowley when he suddenly launched this completely unwarranted attack.

"The victim required surgery and an extended course of treatment in hospital, before having to return due to complications. The attack has had a long-lasting impact on him.

"Without the swift actions of his colleagues at HMP Whitemoor this assault could have been fatal. Their care in the aftermath of the incident was vital to the victim's recovery, and without them things could have been even worse."

She added: "Prison officers do a difficult job in incredibly challenging circumstances. To be attacked like this is completely unacceptable.

"I'm pleased Crowley has now faced justice for his actions."

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