Teen attacked officer in cell at Wetherby young offenders institution

A court heard the officer at Wetherby Young Offenders Institution had to undergo expensive dental treatment following the attack by Elijah Earle.

Leeds Crown Court heard Earle turned violent without warning as he was about to be relocated to a different cell.

The officer went to Earle’s cell on May 19 last year as the teenager was putting his shoes on.

Earle threw a punch as the officer was about to handcuff him,.

The court heard the officer fell back onto the bed and then Earle struck him again “with full force” in the face.

Earle then headbutted the officer to mouth. Earle was restrained by other officers who entered the cell.

The blow caused some of the officer’s teeth to be displaced and he had to undergo root canal work.

Earle refused to comment after he was arrested.

He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Earle, of Smith Field Road, Gleadless, Sheffield, was serving a sentence for drugs offences and assaulting a police officer at the time of the attack.

Stuart Field, mitigating, said Earle had been released from his sentence in August and had been making good progress in the community.

He urged judge Simon Phillips to consider imposing a suspended sentence.

Judge Phillips told Earle: “I consider it my public duty that there is no alternative to immediate custody.”

A report on HMYOI Wetherby in February last year found that levels of violence on boys and staff were high.