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Inmate destroyed microwaves in strop over cancelled Perth Prison party

Perth Prison C hall.
Perth Prison C hall.

A violent Perth prisoner threw a strop and destroyed two microwaves after being told a planned party inside the jail had been cancelled.

Alexander Smith, who was locked up for an assault and robbery in Dundee, lobbed the ovens from an upper floor landing.

One crashed to the ground near to where a prison officer was working.

The 36-year-old appeared at Perth Sheriff Court via video link and admitted a charge of culpable and reckless behaviour that put people in danger and at risk to injury on July 27.

He had another six months added to his sentence.

‘Yes, a party…’

Fiscal depute Sarah Wilkinson told the court: “At 12.30pm, the accused had been told that a party was not going ahead.”

Sheriff Derek Reekie interjected: “A party?”

The fiscal replied: “Yes, a party at HMP Perth.

Perth Prison.
Perth Prison.

“The accused was being disruptive throughout the afternoon,” she continued.

“Prison officers repeatedly asked him to behave appropriately.”

She said: “At some point after 4pm, staff decided not to continue to engage with the accused and instead locked up the landing.

“The accused then ripped a microwave from the wall and threw it over the barrier.

“It fell down to the landing below, where a prison officer was working.”

Inside C Hall, which dates from 1850.

The prosecutor said: “The accused then picked up another microwave and made his way to the barrier.

“He attempted to throw it but it got stuck and landed on the floor.

“The accused picked up the microwave again and was successful in his attempt to get it over the barrier.”

She added: “Prison officers thereafter engaged with the accused and got him to return to his cell.”

Victim of stabbing

Smith, who has more than 37 previous convictions, was jailed for five years in 2018 for knocking a man unconscious with his crutch before stealing his bag.

Solicitor David Holmes said his client’s earliest release date was January 2024.

“On this day, he was frustrated by the decision made by management.

Perth Sheriff Court.
Perth Sheriff Court.

“This man has been the victim of a vicious assault in prison five years ago, in which he nearly died.

“He was stabbed in the neck and as a result of this he was diagnosed with PTSD.”

Mr Holmes said: “These difficulties may go some way to explain his actions, which he realises were wholly inappropriate.”

The court heard Smith spent four months in segregation.

Sheriff Reekie told him: “Clearly this was a dangerous incident and created a significant risk of harm.

“In the circumstances, a custodial sentence is inevitable and it will be consecutive.”

The nature of the cancelled party was not disclosed.

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