A PRISONER has been handed extra jail time after he took part in a "horrendous" assault against a man who murdered his friend.

Dayle Owens, an inmate at HMP Parc, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court on Wednesday for sentence.

The 33-year-old had previously admitted one offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which he carried out alongside co-defendant Oliver Wilkinson.

Wilkinson was sentenced for his part in the incident at an earlier date.

The court heard that in February Owens and Wilkinson were inmates at HMP Berwyn - as was the complainant, Jamie Mitchell, who was awaiting trial on a charge of murder.

On the afternoon of the offence, Owens and Wilkinson were seen by two male prison instructors carrying out a sustained attack on Mitchell.

The victim was "curled in a ball" on the floor as his two attackers repeatedly punched, kicked and stamped on him - with blows being specifically aimed at his head and face.

Neither of the instructors were trained to intervene in such a situation, the court heard, and so did not feel able to do so.

One of them spoke of his concern that "with persistence, they would kill the man."

Prison officer Nadia Perry then arrived at the scene and attempted to stop the defendants attacking Mitchell.

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Judge Nicola Saffman interjected: "What concerns me and I fail to get my head around is that male employees think they're going to kill him and do nothing.

"This lady then comes along and gets stuck in with no fear for her own safety.

"I just wonder if this would be less of a sustained incident if had those working there intervened sooner.

"There are questions to be answered here."

The Leader: Dayle Owens (NWP)Dayle Owens (NWP) (Image: North Wales Police)

The Judge offered high praise to Officer Perry for her quick actions, adding: "She's a woman who got stuck in between three men in a violent situation and she is to be commended for that.

"Mr Owens agrees, and that shows you have respect for her."

Mr Scholz explained that the attack on Mitchell had been revenge-motivated, as Mitchell had murdered (and has since been convicted of murdering) Oliver Wilkinson's cousin.

Elen Owen, defending Owens, told the court: "Although there is no blood connection, he was connected to the [murder] victim - he had been in a relationship with a member of the family.

"Clearly, there was some emotion behind it.

"As a result of this offence, Dayle Owens was moved from Berwyn almost immediately and had been in Parc since.

"The effect has been to punish him twice because he hasn't had any direct contact with his young children due to the logistics.

"He has been making the best of the situation he's in.

"Since he was initially remanded in custody, he has received four consecutive sentences that have totalled over nine years.

"That's been very difficult for him to handle; having the prospect of release snatched away from him.

"It's entirely his own doing, but they have been difficult to cope with for him."

The Leader:

Judge Saffman told the defendant: "This was a targeted attack.

"He (Mitchell) was subsequently convicted of murdering the cousin of your co-accused and a dear friend to you.

"However, you kicked and punched and stamped on the head and body of Mitchell."

The Judge handed down a sentence of two months custody to be served consecutively to Owens' ongoing jail time.