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Prisoner’s 30-year sentence increased after assault in jail

File picture of Jahmel Blakeney after he was sentenced to 30 years in jail for an attempted murder shooting at the Southside Cinema. Further time has been added to his jail term after he admitted assaulting prison officers.

A man jailed for attempted murder had his prison sentence extended yesterday after he admitted assaulting two prison officers.Jahmel Glenn Blakeney, 30, is currently serving a 30-year sentence for the attempted murder of Shaki Minors and his girlfriend Renee Kuchler outside Southside Cinema in November 2009.Magistrates’ Court heard that prison officers at Westgate Correctional Facility attempted to search Blakeney and his cell at around 6.45am on February 20, around two months after he was sentenced.Crown counsel Takiyah Burgess said Blakeney refused to comply with the search and had to be restrained by officers. Despite being handcuffed, Blakeney was able to headbutt one of the officers conducting the search.The officers subsequently discovered a twist containing plant material hidden in the flap of Blakeney’s boxer shorts. Lab tests later confirmed the plant material to be 3.84g of cannabis.Told that police would be notified about the discovery, Blakeney shouted at the officers: “You guys are p*****s” and, “It’s on now. It’s on.”As he was led out of the cell, he spat at one of the officers, leaving bloody mucus on her glasses.Blakeney, the son of Cabinet Minister Glenn Blakeney, was charged in July with two counts of assault and one count of possessing cannabis in an increased penalty zone in relation to the incident.He admitted the drug charge at that stage, but pleaded not guilty to the assault charges.Blakeney’s trial was scheduled to start yesterday however he elected to reverse his plea before it began.Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo sentenced him to 15 months’ imprisonment for the two assault charges and two months’ imprisonment for possessing cannabis, with a further 12 months’ imprisonment for having the drugs in the prison, an increased penalty zone.Mr Tokunbo ordered the three sentences to run concurrently to each other, but consecutively to the 30-year sentence already being served.