A prisoner left another inmate close to death after launching a religiously motivated attack on him, a court heard.

Jerome Carroll had goaded Abdi Hussain about being a Muslim before putting a ligature around his neck and pulling it tight.

Only the intervention of other inmates at Elmley Prison in Sheppey saved the victim’s life.

Carroll, of no fixed address, was given a “hybrid” sentence of prison and a hospital order under the Mental Health Act after admitting attempted murder.

The 27-year-old repeat offender, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and a personality disorder from drug-taking, will be detained indefinitely in top security Broadmoor psychiatric hospital.

But if he becomes well enough he will have to serve an extended sentence for public protection consisting of 12 years in jail, followed by four years on licence.

He would have to serve two thirds of the sentence - eight years - before eligible for parole. Time spent in the hospital would be taken into consideration.

Maidstone Crown Court was told the victim was playing pool in a recreation area on April 23 last year and Carroll was goading him about being a Muslim and a black man.

“You were clearly looking for a confrontation with him,” said Judge Jeremy Carey.

“You had hidden in your clothing a bag in which there was a homemade ligature.

“You were plainly intent on causing him harm. You came up behind him as he stood by the table and hit him on the side of the head, causing him to fall.

“You stamped on him a number of times.”

Carroll took out a torn bedsheet and pulled it tight around Mr Hussain’s neck as he lay semi-conscious on the floor. The victim’s eyeballs was bulging.

He was close to death when other prisoners intervened. He made a full physical recovery but suffered psychological harm.

Carroll had previous convictions for violence and was serving three years for harassment of cousins.

“I am satisfied you knew full well what you were doing and knew it was wrong,” said the judge as he passed sentence by video link with Broadmoor.

“The attack on your victim was religiously motivated. You will be detained for as long as it is necessary.

"If it is no longer necessary you will be transferred to prison and serve the remainder of the sentence.”