Durham prison guards stabbed by Kevan Thakrar

Mar 16 2010 by Rob Pattinson, The Journal

It is also understood the director of high-security prisons for the country Danny McAllister spent yesterday at Frankland, in the wake of the attack.

Craig Wylde, whose life was saved by the quick action of paramedics at Frankland, on Saturday, was switched from Gateshead’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital to the RVI yesterday. The 28-year-old former soldier, who served with the 1st Battalion Scots Guard on Tour in Iraq, as recently as 2004, was said to be stable.

Mr Wylde’s Brother Lee, 33, said: "When I got the phone call telling me about Craig’s injuries I thought he was dead. All the arteries have been severed. Without medical attention he would have died, he would have bled to death."

Following the attack on his brother in the G Wing of the Category A prison, Mr Wylde has called for stab vests to be introduced to all prison staff as standard equipment.

The former RAF technical support specialist, said: "Prison officers work surrounded by murderers and proven violent criminals and they don’t get anything. If you’re in there serving 30 years for murder you’ve got nothing to lose."

Supporting the calls Prison Officers Association (POA) chairman Colin Moses said: "We would like to see the Prison Service adopt a zero tolerance to violence. This could have been prevented by stab vests, stab vests which they (Prison Service) flatly refuse to issue."

Kevan Thakrar was sentenced to three life terms and ordered he serve at least 35 years at Southwark Crown Court, in October 2008, for the murders of Keith Cowell, 52, his son Matthew, 17, and friend Tony Dulieu, 33, to settle a drugs score.

Thakrar was planning to join his brother in Cyprus bringing money and clothes after the triple hit, but was arrested air-side at Heathrow Airport 10 minutes before his plane was due to take off.

His brother Miran was also given three life sentences at an earlier date.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: "Assaults on prison staff are taken very seriously and depending on the severity will be dealt with internally or referred to the police."

Frankland holds 700 prisoners, including some of the country’s most violent inmates.