Racist Gay-Hating Nailbomber David Copeland Slashes Fellow-Prisoner In Exercise Yard

Notorious nail-bomb murderer David Copeland has had an extra three-year sentence added to his life term for slashing a fellow-inmate's face with a homemade razor weapon in the exercise yard of top-security Belmarsh prison.

The 39 year-old racist, who brought terror to London during three weekends in April 1999, and killed a pregnant woman and her two male friends in Soho's Admiral Duncan pub is already serving a minimum of 50 years.

His victim, fellow-prisoner Thomas McDonagh, 40, required 14 stitches and almost lost an eye and has been left with lifelong scars across his face as a result of the attack, which occurred on the fifteenth anniversary of Copeland's life sentence.

Copeland deliberately targeted the black, Asian and gay communities and received six life sentences at the Old Bailey on June 30, 2000 for three counts of murder and three of causing explosions in order to endanger life.

The High Court ruled he must serve a minimum of 50 years custody and today's Woolwich Crown Court sentence will begin on the day that expires, although he will get a 50% discount

The former British National Party and National Socialist Movement member from Cove, Farnborough, Hampshire pleaded guilty to wounding Mr. McDonagh, with intent, at the prison on June 30, last year.

Wearing a light-blue t-shirt and sporting a trendy beard Copeland, who's hair has receded to a widow's peak, appeared via video link from top-security HMP Frankland, Durham and only spoke to say: "Yes I do. Okay," when asked if he understood the sentence.

Judge Anuja Dhir QC said: "Mr. Copeland slashed the face of Mr. McDonagh twice with a weapon he made himself with a toothbrush and two razor blades, which he deliberately took onto the exercise yard at Belmarsh.

"The attack was vicious and left Mr. McDonagh with lifelong scars to his face and eye."

It is believed Copeland, whose nickname growing up was 'Mr. Angry' melted the blades into a plastic toothbrush so 'tramline' scars would be inflicted on his victim.

The court heard there was a verbal confrontation at the prison the day before, which also involved another inmate, Sean Duignan, who punched Copeland in the face when he approached on the yard.

Copeland pulled the weapon from his trousers and chased Duignan into the laundry room, where the prisoner pulled a notice board off the wall and tried to get back out to the yard, shouting: "Let me do him."

"Mr. Copeland has accepted he lost his temper and attacked Mr. McDonagh and that attack involved Mr. Copeland, armed with a bladed weapon, running twenty metres or more across the yard with the weapon on show to where his victim was.

"When he did that Mr. Copeland intended to cause him serious pain and suffering and inflict a permanent reminder of what he had done and he achieved those aims.

"The photographs show the horrific nature of the injuries. One starts at the left ear and runs across most of his face. It required eleven stitches," added the judge.

"There are two parallel cuts that have become two permanent and noticeable scars. The second starts just above his left eye, requiring three stitches. This cut just missed his eye." 

Two prison officers, Frank hughes and Paul Leahy were present, but were not quick enough to stop the attack and they feared Copeland would try to slash them.

He refused to drop the weapon and was only overpowered when an officer struck his leg with a baton and the prison officers involved received a formal commendation from the judge.

As a result Copeland, who was deemed "dangerous" by Judge Dhir, was moved to HMP Frankland and spent eleven months in solitary confinement.

The engineering assistant planted bombs in Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho during 13 days in April 1999, with each homemade device containing up to 1,500 four-inch nails in holdalls left in public places.

The first was outside Iceland supermarket in Electric Avenue, Brixton, which has a large afro-caribbean population, then Brick Lane in the heart of the East End's Bangladeshi community and finally Soho, which has a large gay population. 

The final blast at the Admiral Duncan pub, Soho killed pregnant Andrea Dykes, 27, and friends John Light, 32, and Nik Moore, 31, from Essex.

A total of 139 people were injured during the three attacks.

The jury rejected his manslaughter plea on grounds he was paranoid schizophrenic.