HMP Risley prisoner jailed after arson and assault incident

Martin Smith, of HMP Risley, threatened to set a ‘big fire’ in his cell if no one brought him vape capsules.

He also claimed that he had a shank and the next officer to walk through his door would ‘get it’.

The case of Smith was heard before Chester Crown Court on Thursday in his absence – as he refused to leave his cell to turn up to his sentencing.

Smith, who has spent ‘virtually’ all his adult life in prison, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to assaulting an emergency worker, unauthorised possession of an offensive weapon in prison and arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered

The court heard how the offences took place in September of 2019 and occurred in the 35-year-old’s cell in the isolation unit.

He was serving a prison sentence at HMP Risley after being convicted of an attempted robbery.

HMP Risley

Prosecuting, Derek Jones said how prison officers were alerted to Smith’s cell after he pressed his buzzer to demand vape capsules.

He said if no one brings him them he will set a ‘big fire’ in his cell – so officers decided to check on him regularly as he had also blocked the observation hatch of his cell with toilet paper.

When a prison officer went back to check on him, Smith requested a vape again and was becoming agitated.

He claimed he had a shank and that the next person who came through his door would ‘get it’.

But Mr Jones told the court how officers didn’t take this threat seriously as unfortunately they are ‘common’ in prisons.

Again, Smith continued to ring his buzzer and this time pushed burned toilet paper through the hatch.

Immediately after the prison worker returned back to his office, the fire alarm in Smith’s cell went off.

When he quickly attended the cell, there was a small fire on the floor near the toilet so he returned with a hose.

But Smith had purposely blocked a hole in the door with a mattress meaning the officer could not operate the hose in his cell.

As a result he had to use a hammer to smash the cell door and put the fire out.

The fire brigade also attended where they confirmed the incident was deliberate.

Mr Jones said how the arson offence, and namely the damage to the cell door, cost £440.

Prison officers then tried to enter Smith’s cell to retrieve him but their visibility was restricted due to the smoke from the fire.

Chester Crown Court

Smith reminded them of his shank so an officer led others in to the cell using a riot shield.

The court was told how Smith ‘lunged’ and swung a sharp object around the shield which stabbed the officer in the arm, causing injury.

It was later discovered that Smith had melted and sharpened a plastic fork into a spike.

Due to police ‘reluctancy’ to enter the prison, Smith was arrested more than two weeks later.

Mr Jones shared that Smith has ‘dozens’ of convictions for offences including criminal damage, robbery, and dishonesty.

Defending, Gareth Roberts asked the judge to adjourn the case due to his client’s absence.

But his application was refused as recorder Michael Taylor claimed there was no guarantee that Smith would decide to turn up for the next hearing.

Mr Roberts acknowledged that Smith has an ‘appalling’ record.

He told the court that a report identified Smith potentially has ADHD and his illicit drug use and failure to cooperate with his medical regime exacerbates this.

Concluding, judge Taylor said that Smith ‘seems to enjoy bragging about his criminality’ which he described as ‘rather pathetic’.

He reference to ‘idle boasts’ made by Smith where he threatened to start a big fire – which recorder Taylor claimed with negligible.

Smith received a further 23-month prison sentence.