A convicted drug dealer trashed his cell at Perth Prison, causing more than £4000 worth of damage, because he had been bullied and was under stress because of the coronavirus lockdown.
The trail of destruction also caused serious flooding at the Edinburgh Road jail, Perth Sheriff Court was told.
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Twenty-seven-year-old Ryan Keggan was serving a 50-month jail sentence for peddling cocaine and driving dangerously.
His earliest release date was to have been August 23, 2022, but he had another two months added to that jail term.
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The court heard that, along with another prisoner, he wilfully or recklessly pulled fixtures and fittings from walls, repeatedly struck - and smashed - a sink and toilet - and ripped the fire detection system from the ceiling.
Their rampage continued when windows were broken, the cell observation hatch and door were extensively damaged and the cell and other parts of the prison were inundated.
Keggan admitted causing the damage on June 10, 2020.
Depute fiscal Malcolm Sweeney said a “banging noise” was heard coming from the cell occupied by the accused about 5.15pm.“Water could be seen coming from the cell and furniture and fixtures were smashed.
“When witnesses tried to enter the cell they saw it was flooded and the sink and toilet had been pulled from the wall.”
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The fiscal said the total bill for the damage was £4321.
A solicitor for the accused said: “He has been troubled significantly by his mental health since being sentenced.
“The initial damage came from the co-accused but he took part.”
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After becoming unwell, Keggan had been transferred from Glenochil to Perth but had then been subjected to bullying.
He suffered additional stress because of coronavirus which had led to “significant restrictions” on exercise and loss of contact with visitors.
Keggan had been internally disciplined and spent five weeks in segregation units at different prisons.
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The lawyer asked that any jail term imposed did not interfere with his client’s eventual release date.
But the sheriff said that because of the substantial damage caused, the incident “required to be marked” by a consecutive sentence.
