A security firm is due to be sentenced in the New Year over health and safety failings that led to a mentally-ill prisoner kicking a custody officer to death.

Humphrey Burke, now 29, attacked 54-year-old Lorraine Barwell, of Harold Wood, as she tried to escort him from his cell in Blackfriars Crown Court in central London in June 2015.

Burke pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility and was handed an indefinite hospital order at the Old Bailey in January.

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Ms Barwell’s employer, Serco, which is contracted by the Ministry of Justice to provide security services in courts, pleaded guilty in April to failing to discharge general health, safety and welfare duty from January 2014 to March 2017.

The prosecution claimed that two attacks on custody officers – Ms Barwell and Bernadette Cawley – within that period show the consequences if the right health and safety steps are not taken.

Ms Cawley, who survived the attack, was choked and rammed against a wall in the dock at Woolwich Crown Court in June 2016. No no other custody staff were nearby to help when she pressed the alarm.

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On Wednesday, the case was brought before Mr Justice Jeremy Baker to hear more evidence over two days.

The case is expected to be adjourned with the sentencing concluding on a date to be fixed in the New Year.