Frankland Prison guard speaks of attack by killer

Nov 13 2011 by Lisa Hutchinson, Sunday Sun

A PRISON guard left scarred after a horrific attack by a convicted killer has told how her life has been ruined.

Kevan Thakrar plunged a broken pepper sauce bottle into three prison guards during an assault at Frankland top security jail in Durham.

But after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court he was cleared of all charges by a jury.

Now, prison guard Claire Lewis has told the Sunday Sun exclusively of the moment Thakrar attacked and how she feels justice was not done.

The mum-of-two, of Washington, Tyne and Wear, said: “I suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and I can’t sleep at night, but then other times I want to stay in bed all day. I suffer from depression, take medication at night and during the day, and need pain killers from the injuries he has left me with.

“He has ruined my life and I am in the process of being pensioned off for medical reasons. I can’t do the things I used to do. I can’t lift anything heavy, I can’t do the gardening or lift a hoover. Yet he has got off with this.”

The 36-year-old and the other two guards attacked, Craig Wylde and Neil Walker, are calling for CCTV footage of the attack to be made public.

They are to demand the Prison Service release the footage to show the public what violence they have to put up with on a day to day basis.

Mrs Lewis said: “The attack was on CCTV and I want that footage to be released so the general public can see what happened with their own eyes.

“In my mind it was premeditated. He made the weapon and when he ran after me along the landing he shouted he would kill me next. I can’t come to terms with what happened.”

Thakrar, 24, was serving life sentences imposed in 2008 for three offences of murder and two of attempted murder at the time.

All of the officer suffered serious stab or slash injuries in the assault.

Thakrar, from Stevenage, in Hertfordshire, denied two charges of attempted murder and three of wounding with intent and was found not guilty of all charges.

Thakrar barricaded himself in his prison cell following a row over downgrading of prison privileges.