A Westgate prisoner had 18 months added to his sentence yesterday after he admitted he punched a prison officer in the mouth.

Gavaska Bascome, 24, pleaded guilty to an assault on officer David Laws.

The court heard that Bascome was confined to his cell as punishment for an earlier incident when the assault happened.

Mr Laws had let Bascome out of his cell for a drink of water on March 27.

But Bascome refused to return to his cell when ordered.

He told Mr Laws: “I am not going back to my cell. I’m going to give you guys some work today.”

Mr Laws called a colleague for assistance and the two ushered Bascome back to his cell.

But as Mr Laws tried to get him into his cell, Bascome said: “Why are you in my space? You want some of this?”

A struggle broke out between the two and other prisoners jumped in to restrain Mr Laws.

Bascome punched Mr Laws in the face before another prison officer broke up the brawl and helped to restrain the prisoner.

Prosecutor Loxley Ricketts told the court that Mr Laws required stitches to his mouth and was unable to eat “a proper meal” for more than a week.

He added that Westgate was an increased penalty zone and the offence merited six months extra in jail, plus a year because of the special status of the prison.

Bascome was jailed for 11 years after he pleaded guilty in December 2017 to handling a firearm.

A victim impact statement from Mr Laws, read by Mr Ricketts, said: “This incident caused me to be out sick from work for two months and had both a physical and mental effect on me.

“I was terrified of the unknown — to think that I could have lost my life or had more severe injuries.”

“The offender is known to be affiliated with a gang that has other affiliates locked up at Westgate as well.

“I am aware that the defendant has an idea of where I reside.

“Knowing this and the offence for which he is currently convicted makes me feel uneasy and I have to be on the alert when home and also in any social setting.”

Victoria Greening, for the defence, said that her client had defended himself from a guard who had a history of antagonising him.

She explained that Mr Laws was alleged to have shoved Bascome back into his cell and Bascome had lashed out.

Ms Greening added that Mr Laws may have been the subject of an internal investigation after he was seen “restraining my client in an unprofessional manner”.

Senior magistrate Juan Wolffe ordered the sentence to run consecutively to Bascome’s 11-year jail term.

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