Inmate sentenced in prison cooking pot beating

An inmate at Prince Albert Correctional Centre has been sentenced to 60 days after assaulting another inmate with a cooking pot.

Kelsey Lee Stewart was charged with assault with a weapon after an altercation with another prisoner turned violent Dec. 8.

Prince Albert Provincial Court heard Stewart was housed in a low-security unit along with another inmate and there was bad blood between the two from previous encounters.

Court heard that on the day of the incident, the two prisoners exchanged threats and Stewart, who claimed he feared for his safety, attacked the other inmate pre-emptively.

Stewart grabbed a pot from the cooking area and struck the other inmate on the head from behind, then punched and kicked him to the ground. A guard subdued the inmate with pepper spray.

Judge Steven Schiefner accepted a joint recommendation by the Crown and defence, sentencing Stewart to 60 days of intermittent custody.

“It is a serious charge, but I’m satisfied the sentence – which has been recommended to me – is appropriate,” Schiefner said.

Stewart will serve his 60-day sentence on weekends following the completion of his current incarceration in March.