An inmate “swilled” another prisoner with boiling water during a shocking Christmas Day jail attack.

Jessica Blenkiron caused serious burns to the woman at HMP Low Newton on December 25 last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Blenkiron, from Sunderland, was in the Durham jail on remand and had fallen out with the victim two days earlier over a pair of lost tweezers.

Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said on the day of the assault the victim had sworn at Blenkiron.

Sunderland attacker Jessica Blenkiron has been jailed.

placeholder image — Sunderland attacker Jessica Blenkiron has been jailed.

He added: “A short while later the defendant shouted for the complainant to come down to her cell if she wanted the return of the tweezers.”

Mr Wardlaw said there was a short conversation in Blenkiron's cell before the victim started to leave and added: “The defendant responded by throwing boiling water from the kettle over her, soaking her on the right side of the face, neck and arm.

“The complainant described burning straight away, stinging and throbbing.”

Blenkiron later told a prison officer she was “sick of being bullied so she had swilled her”.

The victim suffered second-degree burns to the top of her back, base of her neck, right arm and hand.

She had a grade-one burn to her wrist and her forearm was blistered in three places.

Blenkiron, 23, of Shaftoe Road, Sunderland, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and has been jailed for three years.

At the time of the attack, Blenkiron was in custody for another offence of violence and later received a suspended sentence.

Sophie Allinson-Howells, defending, said Blenkiron is a “complex” individual with a lengthy history of involvement from mental health services following a difficult start in life.