Jail fury at strip search

TWO prisoners who barricaded themselves in an exercise yard at the Townsville Correctional Centre did so because of an “inappropriate” strip search earlier that day, a court has been told.

Robert William Thomas Lassere, 31, pleaded guilty in the Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday to obstructing staff and obstructing police.

Police prosecutor Kellie Mythen said on November 5, 2017, Lassere and another pris- oner, who has already been sentenced, barricaded themselves in the prison exercise yard about 12.05pm and would not leave despite multiple instructions to do so.

“The corrective services officer observed the exercise yard door had been tied shut with prison- issued clothing,” she said. Ms Mythen said Lassere was seen climbing up and down the exercise yard fence multiple times.

“At approximately 2.15pm SERT ( Special Emergency Response Team) officers attemp- ted to enter the exercise yard,” she said. “Both defendants attempted to stop SERT officers from entering.”

The court heard rubber pellets were used to get the prisoners away from the door so the officers could enter the yard and subdue them.

Defence solicitor Michael Moore said Lassere had said the behaviour was because of an “inappropriate” strip search earlier in the day by one of the prison officers.

Mr Moore said during the search Lassere was made to “fully bend over while naked instead of simply leaning forward”.

Mr Moore said Lassere had complained to the ombudsman about the search.

Ms Mythen said Lassere was involved in another incident at the prison on January 3, when police attended the facility to speak with a number of prisoners.

“The defendant and other prisoners on arrival realised police were waiting to speak to them and immediately started yelling verbal abuse at police, calling them dogs, c--- s and pigs,” she said.

“The defendant refused to say his name, therefore making it impossible to find out what matter he needed to be spoken to about.

“About this time the prisoners began banging and pulling on the door from the holding cell to the interview rooms with such force it appeared the hinges on the door might buckle.”

Ms Mythen said the prisoners were sent back to their units after police said it was impossible to continue the interviews in the “aggressive and loud environment”.

The court heard Lassere spent 14 days in the prison’s detention unit after the exercise yard incident and seven days after the police interviews.

Lassere was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for obstructing prison staff and seven days for obstructing police.

The sentences will be served while he’s in custody for his current sentence.