A SOMERSET murderer has had 16 months added to his life sentence after he broke another inmate’s jaw during a fight.

Curtis Ford, from Weston-super-Mare, joined in a brawl between two other men in Exeter Prison and shattered his victim's jaw in three places with a powerful punch.

Inmate James Symonds needed surgery after the attack on a landing on September 30.

At the time, Ford, 29, was on remand for stabbing a man to death in Weston and was later jailed for life with a minimum of 26 years at Bristol Crown Court in January.

Ford, of Baildon Road, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and was jailed for an extra 16 months by Judge Peter Johnson at Exeter Crown Court.

Then judge said: "This was more than an impulsive or spontaneous act and is aggravated by being in a prison environment and previous offences of violence in your background.”

Felicity Payne, prosecuting, said another prisoner had been talking to Symonds and a dispute arose which resulted in him being punched to the face.

Other inmates separated the two, but Ford was seen on CCTV throwing two punches, one of which knocked Symonds down and broke his jaw.

Ford, who was not represented, told the judge he overheard Symonds threatening to attack another prisoner while they were picking up equipment from a cleaning store.

He said he stepped in to protect the other man.

Ford added: "I only punched him once with a left. I went to punch him again but he went to the floor and it was game over. He was done. He is out now and trying to get compensation.”

Appearing via video link from Woodhill Prison, he told the judge, "I'm sorry" and on hearing the sentence added: "Cheers, nice one."

At an earlier case in Bristol Crown Court, Ford pleaded guilty to the June 2020 murder of Mikhail Hanid, who he stabbed 11 times after falsely accusing him of stealing a bicycle from his cousin.

Mr Hanid died in hospital from his injuries three days after the attack.

Ford's cousin, Samuel Ford, also of Baildon Road, Weston-super-Mare, was found guilty of manslaughter following the "brutal, senseless and appalling" attackand was jailed for nine years with a three year extended licence.

READ MORE: Cousins jailed for killing Mikhail Hanid.