Bicester prisoner jailed for attempt to stab officer in neck

Kevin Jones, 41, has now been jailed for 14 years after admitting attempted murder and unauthorised possession of a knife in prison.

Welcoming the sentence, PC Andrew Gold of Thames Valley Police's Prison Crime Team said: “This was a very serious and unprovoked attack on a prison officer in the course of his duties.

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“This is something Thames Valley Police simply will not tolerate and will always seek to bring offenders before the courts."

Inmate Jones launched the attack shortly after 10am on July 17, 2021, when the then 28-year-old prison officer was accompanying another prisoner back to his cell on the Blackthorn Unit at HMP Bullingdon near Bicester.

Police said Jones held a 'pre-existing grudge' against the officer.

CCTV showed the attacker stalking the officer around the unit until they were on the landing at the same time.

As the officer walked past him, Jones lunged at the man with a sharpened plastic knife in his hand. He stabbed towards the victim's neck, but the man managed to get out of the way of the blade.

The inmate was bundled to the floor then moved to the segregation unit. Later interviewed by police, Jones admitted that his intention was to stab and kill the officer with the makeshift weapon. 

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PC Gold said: “Had the victim not been so alert as to the danger he was in and avoid the attack the outcome could have been very different.

“Fortunately, the victim did not receive any physical injuries but he has suffered mentally, such as stress and anxiety, which has affected both his professional and personal lives.

“I am very pleased that the courts recognised the significant threat posed by Jones, and imposed a substantial custodial sentence.”