Man charged with attempted murder over prison stabbing of police officer

David Taylor, 62, formerly of Willington, County Durham, was remanded into custody, Durham Police said on Thursday.

HMP Frankland is a category A men’s prison, the highest level of security (Tom Wilkinson/PA) (PA Wire)

A man has been charged with attempted murder after a police officer was stabbed at a high-security prison in July.

David Taylor, 62, formerly of Willington, County Durham, was remanded in custody over the incident at HMP Frankland, Durham Police said on Thursday.

The officer, a detective constable serving with Greater Manchester Police, suffered a single stab wound to the chest on July 23, during an interview with a remand prisoner.

Land and air ambulance crews were called to the jail and the officer, who suffered critical injuries, was taken to hospital where he was treated before being discharged.

He is now recovering at home from the stabbing, which Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood had described on X, formerly Twitter, as “deeply concerning”.

HMP Frankland in Durham is a category A men’s prison, the highest level of security, and houses some of the country’s most serious criminals.

Taylor will appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on September 3.