Bicester Prison Assault Case Ends After Deadlocked Jury in Two Trials

Lewis Whitmee-Craig was in prison near Bicester. He faced trial for hurting a prison officer seriously. The trial happened at Oxford Crown Court. He was charged with grievous bodily harm.

The incident occurred on February 3, 2021. He allegedly punched Matthew Burrows, a prison officer, over a food tray in his cell. Whitmee-Craig, 34, used to live in Milton Keynes.

Whitmee-Craig said the officer grabbed his neck. He felt squeezed, so he acted in self-defense. The first trial occurred in March last year, but the jury couldn’t decide on a verdict.

He was tried again this month, February 2025. Again, the jury couldn’t reach a decision. The Crown Prosecution Service then dropped the case, offering no further evidence.

Prisoners had staggered lunch times because of Covid. This helped prevent the virus spreading. Whitmee-Craig’s cellmate didn’t collect lunch that day, and Burrows took the lunch to his cell.

The defendant claimed his cellmate didn’t want it, worrying the food would make the cell stink. Whitmee-Craig supposedly said to take it back, and then allegedly threw the lunchbox out.

The prosecution said he pushed the officer back and then hit the officer’s arm. Burrows grabbed the inmate’s shirt for control and was then on his hands and knees, having been hit by a blow.

Whitmee-Craig claims the officer grabbed his neck. This supposedly happened as he put the tray outside. He said the officer tried to squeeze his neck.

Burrows went to the onsite nurse first. An ambulance then took him to a hospital, the John Radcliffe in Headington. A scan found fractures in his face, and he needed metal plates and screws.