Four men sentenced for prison assault and affray – HMP Bullingdon

Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police four men have been sentenced following an incident at HMP Bullingdon.

Brandon Hutchinson, aged 21, of HMP Winchester, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, to run consecutive to his current sentence. He pleaded guilty to one count each of assault and affray.

Connor Hutchinson, aged 22, of HMP Oakwood, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, after being recalled on license. He pleaded guilty to one count each of assault and affray.

Ross Cantwell, aged 36, of Warburg Crescent, Oxford, was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment, after he pleaded guilty to affray.

Louie Withers, aged 34, of Field Avenue, Oxford was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to affray.

All were sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday (11/5) and pleaded at the same hearing.

On 13 February 2022, at around 3.30pm Cantwell, Withers and Brandon Hutchinson, have assaulted another inmate in a wing of HMP Bullingdon, punching him repeatedly. He fell to the ground and then Brandon Hutchinson and Cantwell stamp on his head and kick him.

Prison officers went to intervene and break up the assault and separate the prisoners out.

Brandon Hutchinson, then runs away, he is pursued by a male prison officer and Brandon Hutchinson is restrained.

Connor Hutchinson has then intervened and pushed the prison officer who falls to the floor. Both Brandon and Connor Hutchinson, who are brothers, assault the prison officer punching and kneeing him, causing an injury to his head and body.

This prison officer received permanent scarring to his head.

Other prison officers then intervene. Connor Hutchinson then punches a woman prison officer in the face and pushes another woman prison officer up on the rails, almost pushing into the netting in the middle.

More prison officers restrain the Hutchinson brothers. Withers then pushes another prison officer, and returns to his cell to grab a crutch which he then waves around. He is then restrained.

Cantwell then grabs the prison officer, who is restraining Withers, around the throat. Cantwell is then overpowered by the prison officers and restrained.

An investigation was conducted by Thames Valley Police and all four men were charged in January 2023.

Investigating officer, PC Andrew Gold, of the Prison Crime Team, said: “This was a very serious incident which had a very detrimental effect on not just the victims, but on all attending staff and the other inmates on the wing who witnessed it.

"Prison Officers should not have to accept being subjected to such violence and aggression in the normal course of their duties.

"I am satisfied that all four men have been given further custodial sentences, which reflects the seriousness of their behaviour.”

GFL