Kitchen phobic prisoner wins £5.5 million after stabbing

A burglar has been awarded £5.5 million in compensation after suffering life-altering injuries and developing a phobia of kitchens following a stabbing in a prison canteen.

Steven Wilson, 36, sustained a torn liver, fractured spine, and lacerated spinal cord when he was stabbed 16 times by Patrick Chandler, a convicted murderer, at HMP Chelmsford in July 2018.

Wilson sued the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), claiming it had failed to properly assess Chandler's suitability for kitchen duties, which gave him access to knives and other sharp tools. The MoJ admitted liability for the attack and agreed that Wilson was entitled to compensation.

Despite arguments from lawyers that Wilson's 20-year criminal record and lack of legitimate employment should limit the damages awarded, the High Court, presided over by Judge Melissa Clarke, granted Wilson nearly £5.5 million in compensation. The Government was also ordered to cover his £546,000 legal fees.

Wilson, who is from Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, stated that the attack left him suffering from chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), flashbacks, and nightmares. He was on remand for aggravated burglary when Chandler, just 24 days into a life sentence for the murder of John Comer, attacked him without warning.

Recalling the attack, Wilson said Chandler looked at him in a strange way before launching the brutal assault, stabbing him with such force that he was lifted off the ground. Despite his severe injuries, Wilson survived.

Chandler later admitted to attempting to murder Wilson and was handed an additional life sentence with a 10-year minimum term in November 2018.

Court documents revealed that, two weeks prior to the attack, Chandler had allegedly told his supervisor about violent fantasies and intentions to harm others, yet his overall risk level had been rated as "medium" by the MoJ.

Wilson's barrister, Giles Mooney KC, told the court that after undergoing surgery, Wilson spent over two months in the hospital and now requires a stick to walk, having lost his ability to work. Wilson described the lasting trauma, saying, "I went in a perfectly fit young man and came out in a wheelchair."

He explained that the attack left him with a deep fear of knives, adding, "When I see knives, I feel cold. You don't understand the chill I get. I can't be in a kitchen or around knives because it reminds me of the attack."

The MoJ's barrister, Richard Wheeler KC, argued that the compensation should be "fair, reasonable, and just," but Mr. Mooney countered that the MoJ had "seriously undervalued" the claim, insisting Wilson deserved the maximum payout.

The Johnson Partnership

Derby Crime Solicitors