Jail Chiefs Let Inmates Have Drugs To End Siege

A prison siege in which a warder was taken hostage was broken only after staff opened the jail’s drugs dispensary to inmates, a court heard yesterday. Hooded prisoners took the warder hostage at Edinburgh’s Saughton jail after an inmate’s wife was banned from visiting.

The traumatised victim and a frightened nurse were released after authorities agreed to the prisoners’ demands for drugs. Several prisoners rushed in and grabbed bottles of methadone, the heroin substitute.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, David Anderson, 42, Daniel McArthur, 23, and Terence Walker, 31, admitted assaulting warder Derek Stewart and forcing him into a cell.

During the attack on 26 May this year, Anderson grabbed Mr Stewart, pressed a sharp object against his neck and shouted: “I’ve got a blade.”

Another prisoner picked up a pool cue and McArthur and Walker hurled pool balls towards other officers.

Anderson, who has previously assaulted a prison officer, dragged his victim across the floor and pushed his head against a metal grille.

Mr Stewart was repeatedly kicked as prison managers began to act and siege co-ordinators and negotiators were brought in.

Anderson warned staff: “Don’t come in here. We’ve got a hostage.” When he was asked how Mr Stewart was he replied: “He’s OK for now.”

A nurse, Elizabeth Melrose, who was working in the dispensary, heard a disturbance and saw hooded prisoners. She called colleagues and was advised to barricade the door.

Anderson later told negotiators he would release the prison officer and nurse on condition that the door to the dispensary was not locked.

Advocate depute Graeme Jessop said: “These conditions were agreed and a prison officer entered the hall and assisted Elizabeth Melrose to safety.”

Anderson went back to take Mr Stewart out of the cell, but he had tried to barricade himself in. Prisoners managed to open the door and Anderson wrapped a key chain around his neck before leading him to a reception area, where he was released.

Mr Jessop said the freed prison officer was “clearly traumatised” by the attack.

The prosecutor said he had not returned to work since the assault and had been attending counselling sessions.

He added that the nurse was “understandably very frightened” and was off work for weeks but had now returned.

The advocate depute said that as the incident ended, Anderson, who has convictions for robbery and assault, was the last to leave.

As he was taken from the hall he said: “I take full responsibility for this.” He dropped his hood, cut from a prison sweatshirt, on the floor. Asked if he had any weapons, he threw a razor handle and wire towards an officer.

Empty methadone bottles and drug packets were found throughout the remand wing and several prisoners required medical treatment after taking the drug.

Mr Jessop said that in the day before the attack Anderson had been told by prison staff that his wife was barred from jail visits.

The judge, Lord Kinclaven, deferred sentence on the three for preparation of reports. All were returned to prison.