Scalding water payback

A GEELONG prisoner has had six months added to his jail term after he threw boiling water over a sleeping inmate.

Mark Roach, 37, left the victim with burns and blisters across his back and legs after launching the attack inside a cell at Marngoneet Correctional Centre.

The Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard the incident on September 19 last year came at a time when Roach was being “physically stood over” by the victim.

Security footage from inside the prison captured Roach entering the man’s cell with a cup of boiling water, before exiting five seconds later with an empty cup.

The victim received treatment for his injuries, while Roach confessed to his offending in a phone call to his mother two days after the attack, telling her he had “f---ed up”.

Defence lawyer Tim Hancock said his client, a former nightclub worker, launched the assault after being targeted by the victim.

“He took ill advice from other prisoners that this is how these matters are ordinarily dealt with,” Mr Hancock said.

“He accepts it was the wrong thing to do.”

Roach has been in custody since early last year, when he was jailed for 3½ years for trafficking a commercial quantity of 1,4-Butanediol, which similar to GHB.

Mr Hancock sought a fine for Roach’s most recent offending. However magistrate Steven Raleigh said a sixmonth jail term was warranted.

The sentence meant Roach’s overall prison term was extended to four years. His non-parole period was not affected by the new sentence.

He will be eligible for early release after serving two years. is