A man has been charged with grievous bodily harm after a female prison officer was left fighting for her life following an attack at a crown court.
Humphrey Burke, 22, of no fixed abode, will appear in custody at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court, south London, tomorrow, Scotland Yard said.
The woman - believed to be in her 50s - remains in a critical condition in hospital after she was seriously assaulted at Blackfriars Crown Court in London.
The woman was attacked at around 1.35pm yesterday as she escorted a prisoner between the court and a waiting van which was parked in the court yard.
Kevin Hagan, contract director of security company Serco said: "One of our employees is in a critical condition after she was seriously assaulted yesterday. Our thoughts are with her and her family at this time.
"We take a zero tolerance approach to violence against staff and we always press for the most serious charge to be laid against those responsible."
London's Air Ambulance was called and the victim was treated at the scene before being taken to an east London hospital.