Nicholas Conway jailed for viciously bashing child pervert in custody

A prisoner told his cellmate on child abuse material charges he was in a brotherhood ‘out to get pedophiles’ before viciously attacking him and leaving him with impaired vision.

A prisoner told an alleged pervert he was in a brotherhood “out to get pedophiles” before viciously bashing him in an “unprovoked” attack.

Nicholas Alexander Francis Conway, 39, became enraged and violently reacted after hearing his cellmate was charged with possessing child exploitation material.

During sentencing, the District Court heard Conway was in custody on unrelated charges in the Adelaide Remand Centre on March 6, 2020.

He was placed into a cell with the victim.

“There was a discussion that ensued as to what charges the victim was facing that led him to also being in custody,” Judge Anthony Allen said.

Nicholas Conway was jailed for bashing his cellmate. Photo: File

“The victim explained to you that he was in custody for possessing child exploitation material, or words to that effect.”

Judge Allen said this revelation caused Conway to become enraged.

“You showed the victim tattoos on your knuckles, explaining to the victim that those tattoos signified ‘brotherhood of like-minded individuals out to get pedophiles’,” Judge Allen said.

Conway punched the victim to the right side of his head, before kicking him to the left leg and punching him again to the right eye socket.

The victim suffered fractures to his right and left orbital floors which caused ongoing difficulties with his vision.

“Your actions were not actions of self defence,” Judge Allen said.

“This was an unprovoked attack in circumstances where your victim could not escape.”

The court heard the “nasty” attack had a significant and ongoing impact on the victim.

Conway, of Flinders Park, pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent.

The court heard Conway had a traumatic childhood and his mental health and drug use led to a deterioration of his lifestyle.

“In the lead-up to your arrest you were using cannabis and methamphetamine,” Judge Allen said.

“The ongoing relationship you have with your daughters and your desire to be a positive influence in their lives is an important motivator for you.”

Judge Allen sentenced Conway to one year and 10 months jail, with a non-parole period of 14 months.

“Crimes committed in prison against a fellow prisoner are notoriously difficult to prove due to difficulties in obtaining witnesses who are willing to depose to what occurred,” he said.

“Prisoners are entitled to look to the courts for protection against violence from their fellow prisoners.

“They are necessarily in a vulnerable position by reason of the very circumstances of being confined in a prison.”

The sentence was backdated to March 6, 2020.