Inmate who threw boiling water on guard sentenced

An inmate who threw boiling hot sugared water over a prison officer in "a traumatising incident" has been sentenced to a further 17 years in prison.

Tony McDonald was serving a sentence at HMP Peterborough for offences including grievous bodily harm when he attacked the woman on 31 July 2023.

The guard was left "screaming in agony" and received permanent damage, said Judge Mark Bishop at Huntingdon Law Courts.

McDonald, 39, denied one count of grievous bodily harm with intent and another of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, but was found guilty.

The court was told McDonald was waiting with a bin full of hot water when the officer responded to a personal alarm from another officer.

He threw the entire contents over the woman, leaving her and another guard with serious injuries, according to Cambridgeshire Police.

Colleagues rushed her to a cold shower while McDonald attacked another prison officer - resulting in the guard receiving a broken wrist.

Judge Bishop said McDonald claimed to be following the instructions of voices, but psychiatrists concluded this was untrue.

"The scarring and injuries caused [the officer] significant issues in her daily life. She is likely to need future surgery," he said.

"She has permanent damage and doubts her career will be able to take her to retirement."

The victim required treatment at a specialist burns hospital and several skin graft surgeries, the court heard.

The male guard suffered burns to his neck, leg and arm.

Det Con John Pentney said: "This was, and remains, a traumatising incident for the victim.

"While the sentence will not undo the permanent harm caused, it does reflect the seriousness of this unprovoked attack."

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