Crime Solicitors

A violent prisoner in HMP Preston who threw boiling water in the face of a nurse has had his sentence increased to 11 years in jail.

Paul Byrne, 27, was a serving prisoner at HMP Preston – he has 16 previous convictions for 42 offences and at the time of his attack was serving a jail sentence of 10 years and 3 months for offences which included robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.

In October 2014, he was transferred to the healthcare wing of HMP Preston and his victim, Yvonne Manfredi, was a nurse who had only recently returned to work in that wing.

While in the healthcare wing, Byrne filled a bowl with boiling water and pressed the alarm button in his cell. When Ms Manfredi came to check on his wellbeing, Byrne threw the boiling water over her face, neck, arms and body.

The water caused scalding and second degree burns, which have left permanent discolouration to her face, neck, chest, breast and arms.

The resultant distress from the attack caused Ms Manfredi to leave her job at HMP Preston, where she had worked since 2009.

After the attack, Byrne was charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, but he claimed to have no recollection of his actions.

In February 2016, Burnley Crown Court sentenced Byrne to seven years and eight months in prison, with an extended licence period of four years.

However, on Wednesday 27 April 2016, the sentence was increased by the Court of Appeal, after the personal intervention of Attorney General Jeremy Wright QC MP, who referred the original sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme and personally presented the case.

The Court of Appeal agreed that the original sentence should be replaced with a longer term of 11 years with a four-year extension – an increase of three years and four months.

After the hearing, Mr Wright said:

“Given my previous role as Prisons Minister, attacks against prison staff are something I take extremely seriously – which is why I wanted to present the case personally in this matter.

“Premeditated attacks like that carried out by Byrne against a person serving the public in a difficult job deserve a strong punishment, not least because of the need to set a tough deterrent.

“I am glad that the Court of Appeal has agreed that Byrne should spend longer in prison – and I sincerely hope this longer sentence provides some comfort to Ms Manfredi.”

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