A Cambuslang murderer scalded a prison officer in a ‘napalm’ attack after being banned from New Year celebrations behind bars.
Nico Donnelly, 26, was put in segregation at HMP Shotts, Lanarkshire , after returning from hospital where he was treated for taking legal highs.
As a result the knife killer was not allowed to take part in activities with other inmates ahead of Hogmanay.
But as officers went to serve him a meal the thug launched boiling water laced with sugar at their colleague Derek McKay.
A scuffle broke out leaving both Donnelly and Mr McKay with broken fingers.
He was removed from Shotts and taken to HMP Grampian but has since returned to the Lanarkshire jail.
Combining boiling water and sugar is known in prison circles as ‘napalm’. The mixture sticks to the skin and intensifies burns, one of the principal effects of jelly-like napalm bombs.
Donnelly, of Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted the assault of December 2017.
Depute fiscal Jennifer McLaren said: “At around 4.10pm on Saturday December 30, the witnesses Derek McKay, Andrew Lennox, Philip McMahon and Stewart Christie were acting in the course of their duty in the segregation unit in HMP Shotts.
“At this time the witness Andrew Lennox opened the door of the cell eight which was occupied by the accused to serve him a meal.
“The accused then threw boiling water containing sugar over the witness Derek McKay who was standing just by the cell door.
“Following the accused being restrained in the cell, the witness attended at the staff office for towels for burns sustained due to the liquid.
“He sustained scalding to his face but did not require any treatment for that but require further treatment for an injury to his finger which came about while restraining the accused.
“He was examined at hospital and found to have suffered a broken finger on the fourth finger of his right hand.”
Marisa Borland, defending, said: “He had been taken to hospital following an accidental overdose on legal highs in prison.
“He was restored to the segregation unit where this incident took place.
“He had had some difficulties with staff and a number of privileges given to prisoners around December 30 and 31 were removed and he felt singled out and victimised by that.
“He accepts he acted in the manner libelled and understands this is no way to behave to people in the course of their employment but also received injuries as a result and was taken to hospital.
“Since his return to Shotts he sees and interacts with the complainer on a daily basis and there has been no further issues.”
Sheriff Shiona Waldron handed Donnelly an extra 18 months but told him it would run alongside his current 20 year sentence.
He was caged at the High Court in Glasgow after being convicted of stabbing Jamie Johnstone, 21, to death in January 2016.
Mr Johnstone died after suffering two chest wounds in the attack outside a tower block in Sandyhills, Glasgow.
Donnelly’s earliest release date is 2036.
