Latest news with #Etchells
The Courier
09-05-2025
- The Courier
Violent prisoner from Dundee slashed rival in football game
A violent prisoner from Dundee who cut the throat of another inmate during a football game behind bars, before making a phone call saying 'don't expect me home soon'. John Etchells, 31, slashed his victim in the neck in an exercise yard at Edinburgh's Saughton jail, before telling prison officers: 'I'll not be threatened by any rodent.' Etchells, who has a history of violence inside and outside the prison system, later said in a call: 'I tried to kill the boy too but didn't get it.' He is currently on an Order for Lifelong Restriction and a judge ordered his latest sentence on five-and-a-half years should begin from May 6 2028, which is the earliest date he could apply for parole under the indeterminate sentence. Etchells, who is currently in HMP Grampian, admitted attempting to murder Connor Steele, 24, at the prison on June 1 last year after approaching him from behind and striking him on the neck with a knife to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life. He also pled guilty to the unlawful possession of a knife. Advocate depute Leanne Cross told judge Lord Stuart: 'The accused has several pages of previous convictions, many of which involve serious violence.' His convictions include offences of attempted murder, serious assault and weapon possession. She said prior to the attack on Steele, he was playing football in the yard and Etchells was standing at benches outside the yard. 'While the complainer was still playing football, the accused entered the exercise yard and approached the complainer from behind. 'The accused removed an item from his pocket. 'He then cut the complainer's throat from left to right before backing away towards the rear of the exercise yard.' Steele was seen holding his neck and shouting he had been slashed. Officers saw his neck quickly become covered in blood. Help was immediately sought and one of the officers saw Etchells place what he believed was a knife down his trousers. The thug claimed that he had 'chucked' the knife but then suggested he had hidden it internally. He later handed over a ceramic blade, which was broken into pieces. Prison officers applied pressure to the wound sustained by Steele and he was taken by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was found to have suffered significant blood loss and a cut from the middle of his neck to the right ear. A consultant said the injury posed a real danger to life due to blood loss. Police investigating the attack seized a recording of a phone call made by Etchells, in which he said: 'Don't expect me home soon. I'm up for slaying somebody's throat again.'
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- Daily Record
Scots prisoner cut inmate's throat during football game at Edinburgh jail
John Etchells, 31, slashed his victim in the neck when he was playing football at an exercise yard at Edinburgh's Saughton jail before telling prison officers: "I'll not be threatened by any rodent." A violent prisoner who cut the throat of another inmate before making a phone call saying 'don't expect me home soon' was jailed for five and a half years today. John Etchells, 31, slashed his victim in the neck when he was playing football at an exercise yard at Edinburgh's Saughton jail before telling prison officers: "I'll not be threatened by any rodent." Etchells, who has a history of violence inside and outside the prison system, later said in a call: "I tried to kill the boy too, but didn't get it." He is currently serving an Order for Lifelong Restriction and a judge ordered that his latest sentence should begin from May 6 in 2028 which is the earliest date he could apply for parole under the indeterminate sentence. Etchells, who is currently in HMP Grampian, admitted attempting to murder Connor Steele (24) at the prison on June 1 last year after approaching him from behind and striking him on the neck with a knife to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life. He also plead guilty to the unlawful possession of a knife. Advocate depute Leanne Cross told Lord Stuart: "The accused has several pages of previous convictions, many of which involve serious violence." His convictions include offences of attempted murder, serious assault and weapon possession. She said that prior to the attack on Steele he was playing football in the yard and Etchells was standing at benches outside the yard. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The prosecutor said: "While the complainer was still playing football, the accused entered the exercise yard and approached the complainer from behind." "The accused removed an item from his pocket. He then cut the complainer's throat from left to right before backing away towards the rear of the exercise yard," she said. Steele was seen holding his neck and was shouting he had been slashed. Officers saw his neck quickly become covered in blood. Help was immediately sought and one of the officers saw Etchells place what he believed was a knife down his trousers. Etchells claimed that he had "chucked" the knife but then suggested he had hidden it internally. He later handed over a ceramic blade which was broken into pieces. Prison officers applied pressure to the wound sustained by Steele and he was taken by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was found to have suffered significant blood loss and a cut from the middle of his neck to the right ear. A consultant said the injury posed a real danger to life due to blood loss but that was managed quickly and effectively by prison staff, ambulance personnel and accident and emergency staff. Police investigating the attack seized a recording of a phone call made by Etchells in which he said: "Don't expect me home soon. I'm up for slaying somebody's throat again "
