Killer 'bitten by prison officer'

Dean Hay (left) confronted Kenny Kinnear after his release

A convicted killer received £1,400 compensation after claiming he had been bitten on the back by a prison officer, it has emerged.

Dean Hay was pinned down during an disturbance while he was serving a seven year jail term.

During the struggle, officer Kenny Kinnear was alleged to have sunk his teeth into Hay's back.

The incident was revealed during a trial at Perth Sheriff Court. Hay was cleared of breaching the peace.

Mr Kinnear told the court that Hay, 43, had approached him in South Street, Perth, after being released from prison and made reference to the previous run-in between them before forming his hand into a gun shape.

He said Hay claimed he had only lost the previous clash between them because he was "off his head on valium" at the time and had offered to fight Mr Kinnear again.

Hay admitted to the court that he had spoken to Mr Kinnear in the street on 4 December last year and that he had talked about the previous clash while he was a serving prisoner.

Despite Mr Kinnear telling the court he had been distressed by what happened, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis ruled that Hay had no case to answer and the breach of the peace charge was dropped.

History of violence

Speaking outside the court following the trial, Hay, from Perth, said: "I was in jail for culpable homicide. What happened was that I was on the bus being moved from Perth to Glenochil and my quilt wasn't there.

"I said I wasn't going without it because it was cold. All the time I was handcuffed to an officer. I stood up and said I was not going without it.

"I think he thought I was going to hit him, because he pressed his panic button and five or six of them rushed on and they got my arms up behind my back.

"All I could feel then was a bite on my back. I was left with a bite mark on my back for a fortnight."

Solicitor John McLaughlin confirmed that Hay had received the compensation payout from the Scottish Prison Service as a result of being bitten in the back by the prison officer.

Hay, who has a long history of violence with at least eight assault and assault to severe injury convictions, was convicted in 1994 of culpable homicide.