A PRISONER broke the governor's jaw, punching her so hard she felt her head had been 'knocked off her shoulders'.

CCTV footage of the assault by David McKenzie at HMP Long Lartin was played to a jury at Worcester Crown Court yesterday.

The 50-year-old admits grievous bodily harm (section 20) but denies grievous bodily harm with intent (section 18) following the attack upon the 'governing governor' Clare Pearson at the Worcestershire prison on Friday, May 25 last year.

The jury was shown several clips in real-time, slow-motion and frame by frame of the attack which took place at the foot of a flight of stairs on Echo Wing.

The defendant was seen walking up and down the wing corridor and shaking another inmates hand before standing behind and to the left of Ms Pearson who is talking to other inmates.

McKenzie then steps forward and delivers a punch with his left fist which connects and makes the governor stumble to the right.

McKenzie is then pinned to the wall by a prison officer while another prison officer puts his arms around Ms Pearson to protect her.

As the alarm sounds more prison officers rush to the scene to restrain the defendant who holds his hands down by his sides after the blow is struck.

At the time Ms Pearson had been on duty 'doing the rounds', talking to inmates about any issues and welfare concerns they may have and had not been aware the defendant was standing behind her.

The governor was treated at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester, sustaining a bilateral fracture of the jaw involving two breaks.

Adam Western, prosecuting, said: "He broke her jaw, fracturing it in two places. He did that by delivering a single, powerful punch with his left fist."

Mr Western said the governor was 'given no warning' and added: "She did not see the assault but she did of course feel it. She describes the pain as being as an intense and terrific pain in the left side of her jaw."

In her statement she described feeling a 'massive vibration' go into her teeth and upper and lower jaw when the blow connected.

"She said she felt like her head had been knocked off her shoulders" said Mr Western who contrasted the victim's 'slight stature' with the build of the defendant.

In a statement she said she heard prison officer Tony McCann shouting 'get him away!' but said by now she felt she was in a 'dazed and confused state and in shock'. Alarms were also sounded.

Ms Pearson said she felt the blow was 'meaningful and purposeful' and that her jaw had been dislodged.

The governor said a previous meeting with the defendant had not been negative. She could not be x-rayed because of the level of facial swelling and could not open her mouth to allow her to clean her teeth.

Prison officer Jim Barrow said he initially thought McKenzie may be queuing for his dinner and said the blow caused the governor to stumble to her right. Mr Barrow described how he placed his arm around the defendant's neck to brace him 'to prevent him from committing any further assaults on the governor'.

He described McKenzie 'trying to fight with us' as he was walked down the corridor to the segregation unit 'shouting and swearing'.

The defence case, conducted by Jack Triggs, is expected to begin today (Wednesday). The trial continues.