Violent inmate punched pair

AN INMATE at the Townsville jail with a nine-page criminal history and a violent past will spend more time behind bars after he punched two prison officers.

Dylan Hague, 27, was in Townsville Correctional Centre on remand for having “laid the boot” into another prisoner.

Hague, who represented himself, pleaded guilty to two serious assault corrective services officers when he appeared via video link in the Townsville Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Tim Madsen told the court Hague was seen acting aggressively in a “loud, heated argument” with another prisoner in the unit on July 8, 2019.

On several occasions the two officers directed Hague to come to the officer station in an attempt to calm him down.

However he did not comply, the court heard.

Sgt Madsen said he was then seen heading to the upper landing of the unit to approach a particular cell.

“It was decided by both officers that (they) would remove the defendant from the rest of the unit to prevent an incident from occurring,” he said.

All other prisoners had to be directed to the exercise yard while the officers tried to deescalate the situation.

The court heard the two officers then approached the landing and the defendant began walking towards them.

“(The officer) directed the defendant to stay on top of the landing.

“The defendant did not comply … and moved directly towards (one officer) and punched (him) in the face with his right hand,” Sgt Madsen said.

The officers attempted to restrain the man on the ground and in the process the other guard was punched to the right side of the face, the court heard. The officers were then able to restrain him.

Sgt Madsen said Hague had a concerning history of violence.

“One of the concerning features is the defendant was currently on remand for assault occasioning bodily harm, whilst armed in company when these assaults were committed,” he said.

“That was a particularly concerning assault which actually had occurred within the correctional centre as well.”

The court heard the initial fight was not started by the defendant, but he laid the “boot into that person” once they were already on the ground.

The matter was recently finalised in the Townsville District Court.

Magistrate Viviana Keegan warned the defendant he needed to respect the prison officers and their authority while in prison.

“They are doing their jobs,” she said.

Hague was sentenced to six months for each offence to be served concurrently on top of the two years and three months is currently serving.

His parole was pushed back to March 27, 2020.

ONE OF THE CONCERNING FEATURES THE DEFENDANT WAS CURRENTLY ON REMAND FOR ASSAULT OCCASIONING BODILY HARM, WHILST ARMED IN COMPANY WHEN THESE ASSAULTS WERE COMMITTED IS