A wee slap on wrist

Brutal thief won’t have to repay stolen cash

AN INMATE who assaulted prison guards with urine and stole nearly $3000 from a restaurant will not have to repay a cent.

In August last year Ziggy Michael Ciora stole $2823 from the under-counter safe of a Mad Mex restaurant in Brisbane.

Cairns Magistrates Court this week heard he had no way to pay back the money.

One month after the theft he helped break into a house in the same city.

The court heard Ciora and a co-accused pounded on the front door while yelling: “Open the f***ing door and let us in or I’m going to kill you and kill your family.”

The men used a chair to smash in the door while the resident fled upstairs and called police.

The officers arrived to find Ciora’s co-accused in a chair downstairs. Ciora had fled the residence on foot and, when arrested, told police he did not know his accomplice and had not been to the house.

Months later while in custody, Ciora assaulted two prison guards with urine.

While verbally abusing the guards Ciora threw two bottles filled with the waste at a mesh screen, splashing the officers.

“It is quite clear there are some mental-health issues in the past that will continue into the future,” Magistrate Robert Spencer said.

“There is clearly a need to impose penalties as protective officers need to be protected from this sort of behaviour.”

Ciora pleaded guilty to entering a premises, stealing, trespassing, serious assault and other summary matters.

Mr Spencer sentenced him to 15 months in jail but suspended the term for six months after time already served.

He said the defendant could not pay back the money lost.

“He does not have the means to pay back a restitution order – this was reflected in the sentence,” Mr Spencer said.

The matter follows the sentencing of two Lotus Glen Correctional Centre prisoners who rioted earlier this year.

One – Joshua Purcell – also assaulted guards.

He lashed out after being forced to hurry his farewell to another inmate, so punched a 62-year-old female guard and assaulted another officer, 50.