Revenge spit spat extends sentence

AN INMATE who spat in a prison officer’s face as “revenge” will spend more time behind bars.

Lisa Sibley faced the Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday from custody at the Townsville Correctional Centre.

She pleaded guilty to seriously assaulting a Corrective Services officer on April 14.

Sibley was serving a fouryear sentence for grievous bodily harm when she assaulted the guard and would have been let out in January 2022.

Prosecutor Subarna Raut said Sibley spat in the guard’s face and that her saliva landed in his eye.

The court was told this was “revenge” after the guard confiscated her second doona.

The assault was captured on video.

Mr Raut submitted Sibley be sentenced to further time in jail, with the new sentence added to her current order.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service defence lawyer Troydon Maltby said his client had a “rather unremarkable” criminal history prior to her grievous bodily harm charge.

“It would seem this sort of behaviour is out of character for her,” he said.

He said a six-month jail sentence would be suitable considering the considerable parole period she was likely to serve once released.

Magistrate Ross Mack said prisoners who assaulted prison officers “must expect significant penalties”.

“Failing that, the good order of prisons would deteriorate to the point where it is unworkable,” he said.

He sentenced her to six months’ jail, to be served cumulatively to her current jail sentence. She will be eligible for parole in seven months.

A conviction was recorded.