Attempted murderer back in court over prison attacks

Michael Maylen was given a life sentence and ordered to serve a minimum of eight years in prison after he admitted attempted murder following a sickening attack on a man in his 20s. It took place in a car park off St Andrews Street in Norwich in June 2021.

Police at St Andrews Street, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)The victim sustained a fractured skull, jaw and eye sockets and spent 12 weeks in hospital after the four minute attack in which he suffered 32 stamps to the head, 13 punches to the face and had his genitals exposed.

Maylen, who was jailed in June last year, has been back in court following a series of attacks against staff in Norwich prison.

Norwich Prison (Image: Newsquest)The 21-year-old was charged with five counts of assaulting an emergency worker and one offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, following attacks on six prison officers at HMP Norwich between July 28 and October 11 last year.

Maylen previously denied all offences but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been asked to review the case.

On Monday (September 16) the case was back at Norwich Crown Court when Ian James, prosecuting, confirmed the crown would be offering no evidence.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) He said: "We've had a chance to review the case."

He added a decision has been made that it's "not in the public interest that Mr Maylen should continue to be prosecuted in this case" before the confirming the crown would "offer no evidence".

Judge Katharine Moore ordered that not guilty verdicts be entered as far as the defendant was concerned.

But she warned him "If you keep hurting people you probably will be prosecuted again, so you understand?"

Maylen, of HMP Norwich but previously of  Music House Lane, Norwich, replied: "Yes".

Michael Maylen (Image: Norfolk Constabulary) The court previously heard Maylen had been assaulting officers "against a background where he has been trying to harm himself and they were involved to try and protect him".

Mr James told previous hearings Maylen has a "history of similar behaviour" although previous matters have not been proceeded with further.

Oliver Haswell, who represented Maylen, has previously said as a result of earlier attacks on prison staff that he had been on a regime of "three handed escorts around the prison" by "officers in riot gear". However he also said that there has seemed to be a "positive shift in his behaviour" in recent times.

LUCKY TO BE ALIVE

Before Maylen was sentenced last summer, the court heard a statement from the victim who told how he felt "extremely lucky to be alive".

He said: "I did not remember the assault then and I still do not remember it now."

Michael Maylen making threats to the victim (Image: Norfolk Police) The victim said he was still "psychologically affected" as a result of the attack and "all these months later I still feel paranoid about going out in public".

Jailing Maylen, Judge Moore described it as a "sustained and brutal attack".

The court heard the victim and Maylen were known to each other, although police have been unable to establish a motive for the attack.

After he was arrested at a garage on Dereham Road some seven hours later, police body-worn video captured him saying: "An argument went the wrong way...I've gone on a murdering spree. I don't care."

The court heard Maylen had walked into the car park off St Andrews Street, Norwich, where he was joined by the victim.

Police on St Andrews Street (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

Maylen then began his attack, grabbing the other man’s head, hitting it against a wall and then punching his head repeatedly. The victim then fell to the floor where the brutal assault continued.

The victim made no attempt to fight back and lost consciousness during the attack.