A thug once dubbed the most dangerous teenager in Scotland stabbed two prison officers with a blade in a row over his dinner.
Darren Cornelius, 32, lashed out at two guards as his evening meal was being served at his cell in HMP Shotts, Lanarkshire.
He flew into a rage over the delivery of the food and produced a 'small white' blade from his pocket.
Four officers immediately drew their batons for protection but he stabbed Andrew Phillips on the left side of his body causing a 1cm puncture mark near his rib cage.
Cornelius was then hit by the batons but managed to strike Derek McKay on the hand with the blade causing a small wound.
Both officers attended nearby University Hospital Wishaw for treatment but neither were left with any long standing damage.
Cornelius appeared via video link from HMP Barlinnie at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted assaulting both prison officers in September last year.
Depute fiscal Alice Carey said: "Four prison guards were working at his cell passing out his evening meal when he exited his cell and stood against the wall.
"It appears he had some issue regarding receiving his meal and expressed feelings of ill will towards the prison guards.
"He became aggressive and produced a small white bladed item from his pocket and made towards Andrew Phillips.
"All four guards drew their batons for protection but prior to being able to do this, he lunged forward and stabbed Phillips to the left side of his rib cage causing a 1cm puncture wound.
"He then turned towards Derek McKay and lunged towards him attempting to stab him.
"Prison guards in response to this delivered a number of batons strikes to subdue the accused but he managed to strike McKay on his hand causing a small puncture wound."
Ross Jenkins, defending, said: "He advises me that since the age of 16, somewhat harrowingly, he has spent only a few months at liberty such is his past.
"He has a parole hearing scheduled for June 2023 but it is fair to say he will not be released then."
Sheriff Andrew McIntyre deferred sentence on Cornelius until next month for reports.
He added: "This is exceptionally serious and so is your record for violence."
Cornelius was handed a life sentence for leaving stranger Daniel Sweeney scarred in a terrifying random knife attack in Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, in 2007.
In 2019 he was handed another ten years for slashing gangland hitman Marcello Pacitti with a Stanley knife in a workshop in HMP Edinburgh.
And in 2000, aged 11, he snatched a girl aged nine from her gran's house in the capital's Fountainbridge before stabbing her eight times.
