Murderer has 11 years added to sentence after blinding inmate with razor blades

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A convicted murderer who blinded a fellow inmate in a brutal attack with a razor blade has had 11 years added to his existing life sentence.

Derek Pallas was awaiting trial for the murder when he carried out a joint attack with Abdul Kefia in C-wing of Durham Prison on Christmas Eve 2018.

Kefia is said to have pinned the complainant against a wall, while 39-year-old Pallas punched him with a clenched fist with a razor blade held within it.

Pallas targeted the eyes of the victim, which led to severe trauma through the injuries and the removal of the victim's eye.

The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm but lost a trial of issue over whether he had a blade.

He maintained his innocence when he appeared before the court via video link from HMP Full Sutton, with Judge James Adkin noting co-accused Kefia had been sentenced to 13 years after a separate trial.

He said: "You have a worse criminal record, You have a conviction causing death by dangerous driving in 2005, a conviction of grievous bodily harm 2008 and you were a ringleader (in this attack).

"The guidelines suggest that any sentence for an offence committed in prison context should be consecutive."

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Judge Adkin slapped Pallas with a sentence of 11 years to be served consecutively with his life sentence of 26 years.

The judge added: "No one could not seriously suggest you are not a dangerous offender or did not pose a significant risk of committing further offences thereby causing serious harm."

In a statement read to the court, the victim said: "What happened to me on has changed my life forever. I can no longer judge distances accurately which can make the simplest of tasks, like picking something up, more challenging.

"I also have difficulty with my peripheral view which means I don't always see things as quickly to my left-hand side. This can make me more vulnerable to possible dangers approaching."

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