Description
A TAXI driver who raped a 14-year-old girl and sexually assaulted a 20-year-old woman has been found guilty of biting another inmates ear in prison.
Terence Collins, 62, was sentenced to 16 years in prison last July after being found guilty of two charges of rape and one of sexual assault at Bournemouth Crown Court.
He has now appeared at Dorchester Crown Court to face charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm over an incident in HMP Dorchester in August last year.
Victim Stephen Jelly was bitten on the ear during an altercation at the county town jail and claimed he felt like he was being eaten alive.
The attack left part of Mr Jellys ear cartilage exposed and it later required sewing up.
Collins was found not guilty of the charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but was convicted by the jury of a lesser alternative charge of unlawful wounding.
However, Recorder Peter Fraser ordered that his sentence be served concurrently to the lengthy sentence he is already serving so Collins will not be spending any additional time in prison as a result of the attack.
Collins, who is currently serving his sentence at HMP Isle of Wight, told jurors in the trial that the alleged victim Mr Jelly was the aggressor in the confrontation.
He said that Mr Jelly had butted him and gone to punch him and when they were grappling together he had gone to butt him again.
Collins said: I pre-empted it coming and I just bit his ear.
I just thought I have got to stop the situation.
When Collins was shown pictures revealing the extent of Mr Jellys injuries in police interview, he said: I didnt bite him to sort of lick his ear.
I wasnt making love to him.
The defendant added: I did what I felt I had to do at the time to protect myself.
The court also heard from another inmate who witnessed the incident and described the defendant as a bully.
Recorder Fraser said he accepted Collins had been subject to provocation but said it was clear his response had been excessive and he could not be said to be acting in lawful self defence.
He said: It was without doubt excessive violence that you used but I accept you were resisting an attack and I accept it was not pre-meditated.
Despite ordering that the sentence be served concurrently, Recorder Fraser warned the defendant: As a prisoner you must not believe that because you are serving such a long period already it gives you impunity to act as you want.