BRUSH WITH THE LAW

STUART PRISON INMATE BUSTED FOR ILLEGAL ART BUSINESS

A TOWNSVILLE prisoner is accused of selling his artwork for profit.

Hans Lester Watt was serving time as an inmate at Townsville Correctional Centre last year when police allege he profited from artwork he had made while incarcerated. A police spokesman said Watt posted his art to a woman in Airlie Beach who he had been introduced to by a fellow inmate.

The spokesman said it was illegal for prison inmates serving more than 21 days to conduct a business from prison.

A PRISONER has embraced his inner Picasso, allegedly selling his artwork for profit in an illegal behind bars business.

Hans Lester Watt was serv- ing time as an inmate at Townsville Correctional Centre last year when police allege he profited off artwork he had made while incarcerated.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said Watt posted his art to a woman in Airlie Beach whom he had been introduced to by a fellow inmate.

“He had been incarcerated since October 2013,” the spokesman said. “When police spoke to the woman involved last year she said her association to the defendant was that he was to send her artwork so she could sell it in a gallery in Airlie Beach.

“It was identified that on multiple occasions she had sold paintings for the defendant with one selling for $ 300 and another $ 400.”

Police will claim Watt pur- chased blank canvases and painting material from the prison art store in February 2017 and later that year in June.

The QPS spokesman said it was illegal for prison inmates serving more than 21 days behind bars to conduct a business from prison.

Watt has been charged with two counts of carrying on a business.

It is understood the woman involved had no idea she could have been assisting in illegal activity and police seized several other paintings from her as part of their investigation of the case.

It will be alleged Watt’s operation was uncovered when administration staff at the Townsville Correctional Centre contacted the woman to confirm she consented to being on Watt’s contact list for calls to be made and received.

It will be alleged Watt set up a trust account for money generated from the sale of his artwork to be deposited.

Watt was initially serving time in custody for an assault.

His matter is next set to be heard in Townsville Magistrates Court on September 27. He has been remanded in custody until that date.