Prisoner threw flask full of hot sugar solution over inmate after argument

A prisoner who attacked another inmate in a Scottish jail after pouring a hot sugar solution over him has been jailed for two years.

Armed robber Matthew Sharkey was told that he would start his latest jail term in May 2029, when he was due to be released.

Sharkey, 35, assaulted the victim at Addiewell prison, in West Lothian, by emptying a flask of the hot liquid over his head and body, leaving him suffering burns.

Advocate depute Donald Davidson KC told the High Court in Edinburgh: “The complainer was on his own at the time when the accused entered his cell.”

The cell door was closed, and after a brief argument, Sharkey threw the contents of the flask onto the face and upper body of the victim.

The prosecutor said the victim of the attack did not report the incident to prison authorities, and it was hours later, when an officer noticed he was trying to hide his face, that it was realised that he had sustained injuries in the attack on December 26, 2022.

The victim said he was injured that morning but refused to provide details of the incident, the court heard.

He was taken to St John’s Hospital in Livingston, West Lothian, where he was found to have sustained burns to his face and body and was sent to the eye pavilion in Edinburgh.

Judge John Morris KC was told that the victim has made a full recovery from his injuries.

Sharkey admitted to assaulting the victim resulting in his severe injury in the Boxing Day attack in 2022 at a cell at Forth C Wing in Addiewell.

Repeat offender Sharkey was originally jailed for six years and eight months for carrying out robberies in Ayr, including one crime where he was armed with an axe.

Since then, he has been convicted of serious assault, drug and weapon possession, and has received further jail terms.

Defence counsel Lorenzo Alonzi told the court that he now has an earlier release date from prison in May 2029.