Convicted terrorist sentenced to five more months behind bars for punching prison officer

A convicted terrorist has been sentenced to five more months behind bars – for punching a prison officer.

The officer was left struggling to breathe following the attack by Abdullahi Ahmed Jama Farah, a court was told.

Jama Farah, 26, from Longsight, was jailed for seven years at the Old Bailey in 2016 after creating a communications hub to help extremists linked to the so-called Islamic State in Syria.

Jama Farah appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Thursday – his birthday – via a video-link to Long Lartin high security jail near Evesham.

The court heard Jama Farah – who was refused parole earlier this year over ‘behavioural concerns – was being returned to his cell in a segregation unit when he assaulted a male prison officer shortly before noon on April 8 this year.

Prosecutor Alison Scott-Jones told the court: “Four officers surrounded him, forming a box.

“The defendant was described as not engaging and having a bit of an attitude.”

Jama Farah pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to causing actual bodily harm to the warder, who was punched in the face and neck.

Ms Scott-Jones said: “The complainant says there was a second blow that hit him in the throat.

“The victim was dazed and hurt and describes himself as struggling to breathe.”

The injured officer was forced to leave the scene of the attack crawling on his hands and knees, the court heard.

He suffered bruising and swelling to his throat, and could not work for two weeks.

He also suffered from daily headaches and had problems sleeping.

Offering mitigation, defence barrister Zayd Ahmed described Jama Farah as a ‘model prisoner’ who had recently been engaging with probation and was extremely remorseful about what had happened.

Jama Farah’s latest court appearance came four months after reports that he was refused parole following ‘behavioural concerns’.

Jama Farah, who is Danish and of Somali origin, was convicted of preparing for terrorism acts between 2013 and 2014 when he assisted Nur Hassan, from Moss Side, Manchester, by facilitating his travel to Syria.

Source: Manchester Evening News