A serial rapist who attacked 3 prison officers after he was found drunk in his cell pleaded guilty to assault at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court today (Friday).
Richard Houston, 30, of HMP Isle of Wight, appeared via video link charged with 3 counts of assaulting a prison officer.
The court heard that on 10th May 2022, Houston and 1 other person were found drunk in their cell after they created some hooch – an alcoholic drink illicitly made in prison from fruits and yeast.
On the next day – 11th May – officers attended the 30-year-old’s cell to tell him that he was going to lose his prison job and some privileges as a result.
Liz Miller, prosecuting, explained to the court that 1 officer entered the cell, with the supporting officers stationed just outside. Houston became annoyed and agitated, grabbing 1 of the officers round the neck and dragging him into his cell, punching him in the process.
The other officers who tried to help also sustained injuries when they tried to break up the infringement, with Houston attacking them too.
In a victim statement read out by Ms Miller, 1 of the officers said that since he was assaulted he has been suffering from symptoms of PTSD, with another saying: “I don’t go to work to be assaulted and this shouldn’t be part of the role”.
Defending, Jim Osborne said his client had no previous issues with the officers and that he has mental health issues. He told the court that Houston had served 50 days of punishment.
Houston is serving time at HMP Isle of Wight after being convicted of multiple counts of rape back in 2016, battering and head-butting his victims after the fact. He will be in custody until 2031 at the earliest after being sentenced to 15 years, reduced from 18 years on appeal.
For the assaults on an emergency worker, Houston was sentenced to 36 weeks in custody, concurrent with his current term, and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £128 surcharge fee.
Just do everyone a favour and do yourself in. S c um
Agreed save the public paying for a bullet!
A concurrent sentence.How is that any deterent.Add it on to his sentence and with any luck the rapist scum will never see freedom again.
Can’t believe we are still allowing such vile things to live a safe, cared for existence.
They need to be frightened, hurt, mentally horrified every day of their life, as they have left their victims to contend with.
IF any such person hurts my family, I will never ever rest until I give the sentence.
I see it that, either they are mental, and will never ever be cured so death penalty. OR they are just evil, so death penalty.
Whichever matters little, end their existence here now.
They are allowed to buy sugar , and orange juice ape juice, and hey presto a brew is in the making, you cannot expect these hard working staff to search every prisoner every day just in case they might be making hooch, realistically it won’t be made in cells anyway. !
Would never have happened in Splodge’s day.
Basically, they’ve given prisoners permission to do what they like with no consequences. It’s not even a sentence. Way to go courts, nice to see you supporting our prison officers, not.
Can’t believe his original sentence was reduced after appeal. What is up with the criminal courts, have they sent their brains to another planet? This man is not going improve, his time in prison has not improved his person one bit. Throw away the key or put him and those people he offended in and outside prison out of their misery by making sure he is NEVER allowed out.
And when his sentence is complete he’ll be released into our community for the Island Council to deal with.
I think you’ll find he’s not from the island, so he won’t be released here.
Ha ha, how little you know about ex-cons released in to the community.
Should be locked up in solitary confinement permanently, ( shame the death sentence is no longer available )…
Loving his defences plea Mental health issues…..
What about his victims of rape ???
And the officers he assaulted…
What are they going through ,????
Jim Osborne, how do you sleep at night? I know it’s your job and it pays your bills, but really, defending scum like this rapist.
I feel sorry for the two prison officers who were attacked. They don’t get paid enough to be assaulted in work by filth that is languishing in that place…….no amount of money deserves that. The old chestnut, ‘we’ll tell the Magistrate you’ve got mental health issues’ what a load of BS.
Needs to be killed and any useful body parts given to deserving human beings who mange to live life without ruining others lives just to pleasure their own incurable sick minds
I would end its life for free
What is wrong with our Courts,hes uins another life with PTSD and gets away Scot free,he won’t even have to pay surcharge etc. Police spent time charging etc to
This should not be possible in a Prison what the hell is going on !!!
How the f can he have PTSD? He’s in nick?