A VIOLENT prisoner who held a guard hostage with a razor has seen his life sentence extended.

Jack Rowley appeared at Worcester Crown Court on October 30 charged with false imprisonment and possession of a bladed weapon, both charges relating to an incident at Long Lartin Prison in April last year.

The court heart how 24 year-old Rowley, who is serving an indefinite prison sentence after he attempted to burn a house down in 2014, walked into an office in the prison demanding to be moved.

Entering the office, Rowley had a toothbrush with a razorblade melted into the handle in his hand, and he confronted prison officer Navdeep Seera, demanding to be relocated to the segregation wing of the prison.

This, according to Rowley, was because his aunt, who was terminally ill, had died, and he wanted to be relocated to either HMP Wakefield or HMP Full Sutton, both of which are closer to where his family live.

The court heart from prison officer Mark Round, who was among a group of officers trying to gain entry to the office, which Rowley had ordered Mr Seera to lock.

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He told the court how he and other prison officers had heard both a radio announcement and an alarm alerting them of an “incident” and all went to the office, where they could see Rowley pacing around inside, weapon in hand.

Mr Round said: “He looked agitated and was pacing around the office. Mr Bertram (another prison officer involved) was speaking to him and asking him why he was doing this.

“He asked Mr Rowley if he was going to harm the officer inside, Rowley replied no. We then made the decision to try and end the situation.”

Mr Round added that officers, having worked out the door to the office was locked rather than barricaded, opened the door and entered, at which point Rowley threw the weapon to the floor.

While in the office with Rowley, Mr Seera reportedly told him “we get on well Jack, you don’t want to do this” and was apparently worried Rowley, who has also previously held prison officers hostage, would hurt him.

Despite this, Rowley said he did not intend to hurt Mr Seera, and was instead trying to force a move to another wing of the prison prior to an eventual transfer.

Before Rowley gave evidence, the court discussed whether he should be put in restraints while in the dock.

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Rowley, who appeared with three security personnel in riot gear, was handcuffed while being led to and from the witness box, as well as having two guards stood behind him while testifying.

Judge Nicholas Cartwright also discussed whether he should have ankle restraints on while in the dock, though he decided not to do this, saying: “I wouldn’t like to see a defendant giving evidence while in handcuffs”.

The jury was asked to decide if they believed Mr Seera had reason to feel he would not be allowed to leave the office when deciding on the false imprisonment charge.

They were also shown the weapon Rowley had brought into the office with him, with an ironic twist coming when the police officer who brought the razor into court needed to find a pair of scissors to open the tube it was in.

While giving his evidence, Rowley said Mr Seera had “every opportunity” to leave the room, saying the prison officer had walked past him to get to the office door in order to lock it.

He also requested he swear on the Koran, having to have the declaration read to him as he “struggles with reading”.

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The jury returned its verdict, clearing Rowley of false imprisonment.

He was however found guilty of possession of the blade, and his sentence was extended by another two years.

Before the jury returned its verdict, Judge Cartwright said to Rowley: “I do not know what the verdict is going to be, but whatever it is, you are not going to kick off are you?” Rowley responded: "Nah nah nah, it is what it is, nothing you can do about it."

Rowley was handed another two years, pushing his parole date back to 2023. If the parole board decides he is still a danger to the public, he will remain in prison.

The 24 year-old, of Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, was originally jailed in 2014 after a “revenge” attack on his former partner, attempting to burn down her house. As a result, he was jailed indefinitely to protect the public.

Earlier this year, Rowley was sentenced for throwing boiling water in the face of a prison officer. He also held two prison officers hostage with a razor at HMP Whitemoor in 2018.