MARK HOLDING FROM COBRIDGE SENTENCED TO LIFE AFTER PRISON ATTACK IN STAFFORDSHIRE

In April 2012, a violent incident occurred within the confines of Dovegate Prison near Uttoxeter, involving a brutal attack on Mark Holding, a convicted sex offender from Cobridge. The assault was carried out by Kevin McCarthy, an inmate with a history of armed robbery, who attempted to fatally slit Holding's throat using a toothbrush embedded with razor blades. The attack was described by authorities as a form of 'punitive prison execution,' highlighting the intense hostility and violence that can sometimes erupt among inmates.

According to reports, the assault took place on May 19 of the previous year. McCarthy's attempt to kill Holding was narrowly unsuccessful, as the blades missed vital arteries and the windpipe by mere fractions. Despite this, the injuries inflicted were severe; Holding sustained a six-inch deep wound from the attack, with blood pouring from his neck. Emergency medical personnel responded swiftly, transporting him to a nearby hospital where the wound was meticulously stitched with 60 stitches to prevent further blood loss.

During subsequent interviews with prison staff, McCarthy admitted to knowing that Holding had been convicted of crimes involving the sexual abuse of children. He expressed a desire to eliminate Holding, stating he 'wanted to take his head off.' The 44-year-old Glasgow native, who had previously resided in Kent, pleaded guilty to attempted murder in connection with the attack.

Judge Simon Tonking, presiding over the case, described McCarthy's actions as an attempt at 'punitive execution inside a prison.' The incident was linked to Holding's prior conviction, which had resulted in a sentence of 68 months handed down at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court in April 2010 for sex offenses involving minors.

Earlier in April 2010, Mark Holding was sentenced to an indeterminate term after pleading guilty to 16 counts of rape. The court heard that the 45-year-old from Crystal Street, Cobridge, had committed sexual offenses against two female victims, both under the age of 16 at the time of the abuse. The charges included 12 counts of rape against one victim and four counts against the other. Judge Paul Glenn emphasized that Holding posed a significant danger to young girls and ordered his detention to protect the public, with a minimum term of five years and eight months before eligibility for parole.