Robber slashed inmate’s throat with razor blade

The judge ruled that Lee Tedstone must spend at least five years behind bars before he is even considered for parole.

Chelmsford Crown Court was told that Tedstone had shoplifted in Braintree and then, when remanded in custody after crashing into a line of police cars during a police chase, slashed the throat of a fellow prisoner with a razor blade.

Tedstone, 37, of Kennedy Square, Leamington, pleaded guilty to robbery, possession of a bladed article, dangerous driving and handling a stolen Ford Fiesta.

The court was told that the robbery took place at a Lidl store in Rayne Road, Braintree, in August.

A female member of staff was held by Tedstone with a knife at her throat to force staff to give him access to a safe.

He then drove off in the stolen Fiesta and a police chase along the M11 at speeds of up to 90 mph ended when he smashed into a line of police cars. He was arrested and remanded in custody. But, within an hour of arriving in prison he slashed the throat of a fellow inmate who he had had nothing to do with, leaving a gash three centimetres deep and two and a half centimetre long.

Sentencing him Judge Christopher Ball QC, who ordered that he serve a minimum term of five years in prison before being considered for parole, said: “Quite how he managed to secrete a blade or acquired it when he was there, I don’t know.

“It was an unprovoked attack inflicting an horrific injury.”

In addition to jailing him the judge also disqualified him from driving for three years.