Burglar Stabbed in Chelmsford Prison Kitchen Wins £5m Payout

In July 2018, Steven Wilson, a 36-year-old career burglar, was stabbed multiple times in the kitchen of HMP Chelmsford by a convicted murderer. The assailant had been allowed to work in the kitchen despite a risk assessment indicating uncertainty about his trustworthiness and temperament. Wilson suffered severe injuries, including cuts to his liver and stomach, and an incomplete spinal lesion, which drastically altered his life. Following the attack, he was hospitalized for seven weeks, undergoing emergency surgery and spending nine days in an induced coma. Wilson, who had a long criminal history with 31 convictions, was on remand for burglary at the time of the incident. After the stabbing, he received a nine-year sentence, later reduced to six-and-a-half years due to his injuries. He was released in June 2021. The Ministry of Justice admitted liability for the attack but contested the amount of damages awarded to Wilson, which totaled £5.4 million. The high court judge, Melissa Clarke, emphasized the profound impact of Wilson's injuries on his life, noting that he would likely require 24-hour support and full-time use of a wheelchair as he aged. The judge expressed hope that Wilson could engage with necessary therapies to improve his quality of life despite the challenges he faced. The case raised significant concerns about prison safety and the adequacy of risk assessments for inmates working in environments with potential hazards, such as access to knives. The judge's ruling highlighted the need for better oversight and management of inmate activities to prevent similar incidents in the future.