A CONVICTED rapist from Helensburgh was attacked in prison by another sex offender wielding a makeshift weapon.

Ben Slee, 32, was behind bars awaiting sentence when he was attacked by 39-year-old Neil Mackintosh as he made his way back to his cell at Barlinnie with his lunch.

Mackintosh attacked Slee from behind on the landing as they passed on April 30, 2017.

Prison officer Graham Teesdale immediately stepped in, followed by other members of staff, and took a toothbrush from Mackintosh which had razor blades melted in it.

Both Slee and the officer were taken to hospital – Slee with multiple cuts, including one which exposed tendons in his thumb, and the prison officer with a large cut to his right forearm.

Mackintosh pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting both men to their severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

On Thursday Sheriff Lindsay Wood handed convicted rapist Mackintosh a 42-month sentence and told him the attacks are things that “he should never ever be proud over” and added “There was no need to do that”.

The court previously heard the initial attack on Slee, from Helensburgh, happened at around 11.40am on April 30 last year while Slee was on remand at the Glasgow jail waiting to be sentenced.

Less than six weeks after the assault Slee was jailed for six years, and made the subject of an order for lifelong restriction, for a catalogue of abuse against six women, including rape, attempted rape and sexual and physical assault.

He had earlier been found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of 29 offences committed between 2002 and 2015.

The city's sheriff court was told that while in Barlinnie prison on remand, Slee was on the ground floor to get lunch, then made his way back to his cell carrying his food.

Procurator fiscal depute Mhairi Alexander said he stopped on the first floor landing, as Mackintosh was coming down.

She said: “The accused then produced an adapted toothbrush with razor blades melted in to it and attempted to try and cut Mr Slee from behind.

“Mr Slee then made his efforts to defend himself by covering his face.

“On seeing this Mr Teesdale, immediately and without hesitation, tried to restrain the accused and prevent him from continuing with the attack.

"However the accused made continuous efforts to try and assault Mr Slee.”

She said other officers arrived and the toothbrush was removed from Mackintosh.

Mr Teesdale noticed his arm was cut and was later taken to hospital, as was Slee.

The prison officer was found to have a large eight centimetre by one centimetre cut to his right forearm.

Slee had a deep cut to his thumb, exposing tendons, a cut to his right ear which needed stitches and will leave a permanent scar, a 10 centimetre cut to the right of his neck, and a cut to his left forearm.

Mackintosh wasn’t cautioned and charged at that point because of his violent nature.

It was heard that Mackintosh was worried about people in prison in the lead-up to the incident.

Sheriff Wood noted: “He retaliated first.”

Mackintosh was jailed for ten years and five months in September 2010 for raping and abusing two women.

Judge Norman Ritchie QC said he had "displayed unbridled viciousness".

He attacked his first victim at various addresses in Inverness and Culloden between January 1999 and November 2005.

Her son would shout "leave my mummy alone" and try to pull Mackintosh off his mother during attacks.

When she finally managed to get away from him, Mackintosh – whose name was spelled 'McIntosh' in court papers on the earlier case – moved on to his next victim, a woman he met at Inverness railway station.

He repeatedly assaulted and raped her at an address in Glasgow between January and September 2009.