A former inmate who attacked a prison guard with a kettle and broke his finger more than eight years ago will go back to prison despite his last conviction being six years ago and having changed his life since.

William Mercieca, 41, had appealed a nine-month jail term he received in December 2012 after he was found guilty of causing serious injury to correctional officer Steven Camilleri on December 5, 2005.

In his appeal, Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano reduced the term by one month after taking into consideration that the injury by law was not serious but slight.

He also noted that Mr Mercieca’s last conviction was in 2006 after committing a similar crime in another institution and that since then he had changed his life around.

On the other hand, the judge said that such attacks on officials were unacceptable and the official was doing his duty when he was attacked.

The court heard how, on the day in question, Mr Mercieca, who was in division 13 of the prison, refused to have the door of his cell locked by CO Camilleri.

A fight broke out between them and Mr Mercieca attacked him with a kettle breaking the officer’s finger.

The fight got out of hand to the extent that other inmates had to pull Mr Mercieca off the officer, the court heard.

In his appeal, Mr Mercieca argued that the injuries as suffered by the officer were not classified as serious but slight and also asked the court to consider the time it took for him to get justice, among other legal points.

Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano upheld his arguments that the injuries were classified as slight and reduced the term.