LEICESTER PRISONER CARLOS RACITALAL BACK IN COURT FOR BRUTAL ATTACK ON GUARD

In a disturbing development, Carlos Racitalal, a 34-year-old inmate from Leicester, has once again appeared before the courts following a violent assault on a prison officer at Strangeways prison. Racitalal, who is serving a life sentence for a series of heinous and unprovoked attacks across Leicester, was convicted of attempting to murder two children and two adults in the Belgrave area. His past crimes include slashing the throat of a ten-year-old boy, stabbing an elderly man and a mother with a buggy multiple times in their heads, and running down a five-year-old girl with his vehicle.

The recent incident at Strangeways occurred on June 22 of the previous year. According to court reports, Racitalal had been in the process of taking a shower and cleaning his cell when he unexpectedly left his accommodation and moved onto a landing within the prison. The prison officer involved, who had no prior issues with Racitalal, initially believed he was approaching her to ask a question. However, the situation quickly escalated when Racitalal suddenly launched a violent attack, punching her forcefully in the face and head, as detailed by prosecutor Betsy Hindle during the hearing at Manchester Crown Court.

The officer was knocked to her knees during the assault, and Racitalal further assaulted her by kicking her ribs. Her colleagues intervened swiftly to restrain him. The attack left her with bruises, swelling, and minor hearing loss, which may persist indefinitely. The court was informed that this traumatic experience has significantly impacted her confidence and her willingness to assist prisoners in the future. The officer expressed her feelings, stating, “In the past I would go out of my way to help prisoners, but now I only tend to do what is required of me.”

During police interviews, Racitalal admitted to having ‘anger issues’ and justified his attack on the officer by claiming she was ‘the smallest and most defenceless’ victim he could find. The court heard that Racitalal’s actions were an ‘explosion of gross and wholly unnecessary violence,’ as described by Recorder Sarah Johnston. She emphasized the seriousness of the assault and the need for a lengthy sentence to reflect the gravity of his actions, stating, “You have a very long time to make amends for your offending, and demonstrate this behaviour is not to be repeated.”

Racitalal, who expressed feelings of ‘embarrassment and shame’ over his conduct, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker. His punishment was a substantial prison term of 21 years and 259 days, handed down in November of the previous year, for the series of attacks committed in Leicester during January of that year. The jury had previously heard details of his deliberate attempt to run over a five-year-old girl in a car park at Asda on Exploration Drive, off Abbey Lane, Leicester, on January 2. Additionally, he stabbed a mother in the head while she was walking with her six-year-old son along Doncaster Road on January 14, and two days later, assaulted a man in his seventies on Dean Road, targeting his head with multiple blows.

The court also heard about an attack on a mother and her 10-year-old son on January 18, just after 5 pm. Racitalal approached the mother as she was parking her car, placed a hand on her son’s shoulder, and slashed his neck. The severity of Racitalal’s violent history underscores the ongoing threat he poses. In mitigation, defense lawyer Shaun Esprit argued that the prison attack would serve as ‘another hurdle’ for Racitalal in his efforts to persuade the Parole Board that he is suitable for release. It was noted that Racitalal would likely be in his mid-50s before his case could even be considered, highlighting the long-term consequences of his violent behavior.