A “DANGEROUS” offender will spend eight years in prison after punching, kicking and stamping on a fellow inmate in a young offenders institution.

Aaron Ruddin, 20, of Walmersley Road, Bury, Greater Manchester, was already serving a sentence at Deerbolt young offender’s institute, near Barnard Castle, when he attacked another prisoner in February this year.

Paul Reid, prosecuting, told Durham Crown Court there was a dispute between the two men over a debt and Ruddin had told his victim that he wanted his “canteen” – a prison personal allowance – in payment.

At around 6.45pm on February 24 Ruddin approached the other man in the association area, pushed him over and punched him around 15 times in the head. He then stamped on his head and kicked him, leaving him with a fractured jaw.

Ruddin, who has convictions for causing grievous bodily harm and battery, was dealt with as a dangerous offender and was given an eight-year sentence with a four-year extension for causing grievous bodily harm.

Simon Perkins, mitigating, told the court he recognised he had “significant issues” to deal with and said he had been the victim of abuse at the hands of his stepfather.

Judge Christopher Prince said: “You pose a high risk of causing serious harm.”