Murderer attacked prison officer

A convicted murderer who attacked a prison officer at HMP Whitemoor near March has been sentenced.

Christopher Walters, 35, launched the unprovoked attack on 16 January last year.

He punched the prison officer to the face twice, knocking him unconscious.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment and was discharged the same day.

In 2013 Walters was convicted of murdering a man in London in May the previous year.

Walters initially denied assault causing actual bodily harm but pleaded guilty during a trial at Cambridge Crown Court yesterday (24 September).

At the same hearing he was sentenced to 13 months in prison to be served concurrently to his existing sentence.

DC Emma Purser said: “This was a completely unprovoked attack that left a man needing hospital treatment.

“Although the sentence is concurrent, it will be taken into account when Walters becomes eligible for parole.

“Prison officers do a difficult job in challenging circumstances. Attacks like this are completely unacceptable.”