A HMP Bullingdon inmate threw 'boiling' water in a prison guard's face before threatening to stab officers.

Keir Travers was in the segregation unit of the prison near Bicester on March 16 when the incident took place, a court heard yesterday.

Prosecutor Julian Lynch, during the 22-year-old's sentencing at Oxford Crown Court, said prison guard Nigel Mason had been bringing Travers breakfast and had poured 'boiling or near boiling' water into his cup when the inmate flung it at the man's face.

Mr Lynch said: "The guard was relatively fortunate in that he was scalded in the face but there was no permanent physical damage."

He said Travers, originally of Veryan Court, London but currently serving in prison for harassment, then tried to block entry to his cell and when officers got in they found him holding a pen and 'making a stabbing motion.'

After refusing to drop the impromptu weapon, he had to be struck twice by guards with their batons before relinquishing it.

The barrister read out a statement from Bullingdon governor Ian Blakeman who said Mr Mason had been 'shaken' after the attack and added such incidents had a 'profound' impact on the confidence of staff.

Laban Leake, in mitigation, said Travers had expressed 'genuine remorse' and experienced a 'moment of madness' due to the prisoner in the cell next to his 'engaging in a dirty protest'. He added: "My client did not intend to injure the guard, who he previously had a good relationship with."

Judge Peter Ross, sentencing Travers to 32 months in prison for one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, said he had 'very real concerns' about the danger he posed.

A further 15 months was added for one count of affray, which will be served concurrently, after his current sentence has ended.