An inmate who assaulted a Goulburn prison officer last year has been given an extra jail sentence.
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Tyrone Nagati, 21, an inmate at Goulburn Correctional Centre, pleaded guilty to assaulting a law officer (not police) when he appeared by audio-visual link in Goulburn Local Court on March 13.
Police facts tendered in court said that on November 28, 2018 about 2.20pm, a prison officer was assisting with a head count and evening lock in when he attended the doorway of a cell in Unit 3.
Nagati was standing in the doorway of the cell when the prison officer instructed him to take his meal.
Nagati refused, demanding to be moved to another cell as his television was not working.
The prison officer said it was too late to arrange the move and told Nagati to move into his cell, but he refused to do so.
The prison officer pressed his duress alarm as Nagati approached him and threw punches at the officer, one of which connected with his head.
The officer attempted to push Nagati back and a second punch from Nagati connected with the officer's head. Other prison officers arrived to assist and Nagati was restrained.
The officer sustained a sore back and neck and minor lacerations as a result of the incident.
On December 14, police attended the jail and charged Nagati. In court, Nagati’s solicitor said his current release date was in 2019.
"As a result of this incident he got three months' segregation," the solicitor said. "This meant he was locked in a cell for 23 hours a day."
Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said it was a serious charge. "It carries a four-year jail penalty," Ms Beattie said.
"On that day your television was not working and you had raised the issue prior. It may have been frustrating, but that was no excuse for how you behaved.
"The victim was just doing his job and anyone who turns up to work to do their job should not be assaulted.
"He directed you to go back into your cell and you threw punches to his head and you both ended up on the ground.
"There is a strong need for general deterrence in these matters. As a consequence you were confined to your cell for the bulk of the day.
"I take that into account in sentencing you, but clearly the only possible sentence I can give is one of imprisonment."
She sentenced Nagati to 13 months' imprisonment with a non-parole period of eight months, with his earliest release date now being March 2020.
Bassam Hamzy
The Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is seeking to appeal the recent quashing of inmate Bassam Hamzy's 20-month sentence for assaulting a prison officer in 2017.
"The Office of the DPP is seeking judicial review of the permanent stay of Mr Hamzy’s charges. This appeal will be made to the Court of Appeal," the DPP spokesperson said.