SUFFOLK: A teenage inmate is today awaiting his punishment after pouring scalding hot water down the back of a fellow prisoner's neck.

SUFFOLK: A teenage inmate is today awaiting his punishment after pouring scalding hot water down the back of a fellow prisoner's neck.

The 16-year-old at Warren Hill prison, who cannot be named, admitted attacking his victim while the pair were queuing for a dinner at the jail on November 10.

David Taylor, prosecuting, told Ipswich Youth Court yesterday: “The complainant felt himself being pulled or grabbed from behind.

“Then hot water was poured down the back of his neck.”

The boiling water had just been taken from an urn and the victim was left with scalding to his head, neck and shoulders.

Following the attack, he fell to the floor and claimed the teen then kicked him in the head although that could not be proved in CCTV footage.

The youth admitted a charge of causing grievous bodily harm without intent at the hearing yesterday .

Kevin McCarthy, in mitigation, said the young attacker had been forced into the action by fellow inmates.

“My client says he did this because he was threatened if he didn't do it, the same would happen to him,” he said. “He accepts it was a moment of weakness on his part.”

The youth had been serving a 10-month sentence for a previous offence at the time of the attack.

Mr McCarthy told the court the youth had an “appalling record” which was “peppered with incidents of violence” but now wanted to put his past behind him.

The defendant had previous convictions for assault and robbery but most of these had happened when he lived in another area.

“He has admitted he doesn't want to go back there in a hurry,” Mr McCarthy said.

The youth was remanded in custody for reports before being sentenced at the end of the month.