Inmate sentenced for prison officer attack

A prison inmate has been handed more jail time after being found guilty of seriously assaulting an officer at HMP Dovegate.

Daouda Sy, aged 28, formerly of Redditch, refused to appear for sentencing via video-link at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday 3 February), after he was convicted following trial of wounding with intent, relating to an attack that took place in January 2023.

Despite his refusal, Sy was handed a further jail term of seven and a half years with an extended licence period of five years; a total sentence of 12.5 years.

Sy had been handed a 12-year jail term in 2022 after he was convicted of carrying out an unprovoked machete attack on a member of the public in Sheffield in 2019.

He was further convicted, later the same year, of a prison officer assault and was found guilty of the latest assault following a trial in December last year.

In the 2023 assault, a prison officer suffered life-threatening injuries to his face, right eye, head and neck after Sy refused to calm down and return to his cell when asked, following an altercation with another inmate.

The victim had to be treated in hospital following the assault.

Sy has since been moved to another prison.

Speaking following sentencing, prison crime investigator from our crime investigation department (CID), Aimi Hanlon, said: “Sy launched this violent, unprovoked and sustained attack on the officer who was merely trying to do his job.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe at their place of work and prison officers are no different.

“I am pleased that Sy has been handed a significant additional custodial sentence for his offending and hope this shows how we will continue to pursue individuals intent on violence whether they’re out in the community or behind bars.”