Paul Smith v Ministry of Justice, Southampton County Court [2001]

On 20 June 2001, while located in the segregation unit of HMP Parkhurst, Paul Smith was assaulted by several prison officers, sustaining multiple injuries including a fractured thumb, contused kidneys, and over 19 abrasions and contusions to his head and body.

On 2 September 2001, after hearing evidence over seven days, Recorder Linda Sullivan QC, sitting at Portsmouth County Court, dismissed the evidence of four key prison officer witnesses as inaccurate and unreliable and ruled that Mr Smith received the injuries described as a result of prison officers assaulting him on the morning of 20 June 2001 when he was unable to defend himself and completely outnumbered.