Winson Green prisoners brutally attack fellow inmate using 'pool ball' in a sock

Jake Ratcliffe, 22, attacked a fellow prisoner in his cell with a sock containing a heavy implement, believed to be a pool ball, in July last year.

He was closely followed into the cell by 25-year-old Nicholas Avey and both men set about their victim, kicking and punching him to the floor.

The 53-year-old man was left with three fractures to his jaw and other bruising.

Both men pleaded not guilty to the assault, claiming to be elsewhere at the time, but a jury found them guilty after five day trial and they were sentenced on Monday at Birmingham Crown Court.

Prison Crime Investigator Detective Constable Chris Franks said: "Anyone serving time in prison is still liable to prosecution as they would be on the outside and, likewise, inmates should feel protected by the law if a crime occurs.

"This was a violent attack which left a man with serious injuries and I am pleased that the sentence reflects the severity of the crime."

At the time of the attack Ratcliffe from Sixth Avenue, Ketley Bank, was on remand for theft offences and Avey, also form Telford, was serving 20 weeks for possession of cannabis.

G4S Director for HMP Birmingham, Pete Small, said: "The law is very clear and prisoners should be in no doubt of our determination to work with police to hold them to account in court if they resort to violence.

"These sentence lengths are a real deterrent and I am grateful to West Midlands Police and local prosecutors for their efforts in this case which supports the work of my staff as well as the majority of prisoners who engage positively in Birmingham's regime."