Prisoner died weeks after 'vicious' attack in shower

A prisoner awaiting trial for attempted murder has been jailed for life for a "vicious" attack on a fellow inmate.

Andrew Thorpe, 38, was told Jonathon Thornton had made racist remarks while they were both detained at HMP Nottingham in June 2024.

Thorpe followed Mr Thornton around the prison and lured him into the showers where he inflicted injuries which he would die from two weeks later.

On Thursday, Thorpe was told by a judge at Nottingham Crown Court he will not be considered for parole for 34 years.

Thorpe, who was flanked by four custody officers in the dock during sentencing, was found guilty of both murder and attempted murder after a trial in April.

He hit Mr Thornton only a few times in an attack that lasted just a few seconds, the court was told.

Mr Thornton hit his head on the wall after the first blow and was later found on the floor of the prison showers. He died in hospital in July.

Thorpe was left with Mr Thornton's blood on his socks after the attack and made sure he disposed of them, before he "calmly" put his glasses back on, the judge said.

A victim impact statement from Mr Thornton's brother, Erick, which was read out in court, said his family had spent time by his hospital bed making a "hopeless wish for his recovery".

"On hearing his injuries were so severe that he would have no chance of survival, the pain was almost impossible to bear," Mr Thornton added.

Thorpe was at HMP Nottingham on remand for the attempted murder of Declan Hales on 29 May 2024, when he carried out the attack on Mr Thornton on 26 June 2024.

Judge Nirmal Shant KC said Thorpe, who was a street drug dealer, was said to have become "obsessed" with Mr Hales' former partner and texted him repeatedly with the promise of cheap cocaine, which was "an offer he could not refuse".

He then took a knife in a taxi to Mr Hales' home in Edwalton, Nottinghamshire, and stabbed him in the head and body a number of times, puncturing his lung.

The attack ended when Mr Hales managed to flee to a neighbour's home.

Thorpe, of Alfred Street North, St Ann's, then fled the scene and was later arrested, charged and remanded at HMP Nottingham.

The court heard Mr Hales survived his injuries but still suffers headaches and has nightmares, and was unable to work for a number of months.

Judge Shant imposed a 25-year concurrent sentence for the attempted murder.

She said the knife used in the attack on Mr Hales had never been found, and described the attack on Mr Thornton as "vicious".

"Left behind are a family that is still grieving, and nothing I can do to you today in terms of a sentence can change that," the judge added.

"You will never be released until it is deemed safe for you to be released."

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