Yatala inmate identifies Hells Angels bikie as one of the prisoners he says drugged, raped and tattooed him

These are the “grotesque” tattoos inked on a Yatala prisoner during what he claims were three days of torment – amid dramatic developments in the investigation.

A large, sexually explicit message tattooed on the Yatala inmate’s stomach. He has told prison authorities he was drugged, raped and forcibly tattooed by other inmates over three days.

A Hells Angels bikie is one of three Yatala prisoners at the centre of an investigation into an alleged attack on another prisoner that left him with “grotesque” jailhouse tattoos.

Bizarrely, it can also be revealed detectives are actively investigating whether or not the inmate fabricated details of the incident, falsely alleging he was drugged and sexually assaulted.

Sources have told The Advertiser the police investigation has so far uncovered no evidence to support the prisoner’s claims he was either drugged or sexually assaulted.

However, on February 19 – the day the inmate reported the alleged incident – prison officers at Yatala searched several cells in F Division and recovered an illegal tattoo gun and needles that were used to create the tattoos on the inmate’s thigh, stomach and chest.

The next day further searches were conducted and more tattoo gun needles, gloves and alcohol swabs were located.

The three prisoners alleged by the inmate to have been involved in the incident have all been separated and transferred to Yatala’s high-security G Division.

A sexually explicit image that was tattooed on the prisoner during the alleged assault.

Correctional Services chief executive David Brown on Tuesday declined to comment on the progress of the investigation he had ordered.

“It would be inappropriate to comment at this stage,’’ he said.

Last Friday, Mr Brown described the allegations as “deeply disturbing”.

“When such allegations come up it is a criminal matter without any question and SAPOL are immediately brought in, sexual assault services are brought into the picture and we are very proactive in gathering evidence and supporting police in the work they are doing,’’ he said.

The Advertiser last Friday revealed the incident was the subject of two separate investigations – a criminal inquiry being conducted by Eastern District detectives and an internal review by Correctional Services’ intelligence and investigations unit.

Illegal tattoo guns and needles were recovered from cells in Yatala Labor Prison’s F Division.

The investigations were triggered when the prisoner was taken to Yatala’s infirmary after prison officers noticed he had fresh tattoos that needed medical treatment for infection.

The inmate told prison doctors and prison officers he had been “forcibly tattooed’’ and nominated the prisoners involved. He also said he had been sexually assaulted, but did not provide further details.

The Hells Angels bikie nominated by the inmate as being involved is serving almost five years for offences including aggravated serious criminal trespass, discharging a firearm to injure, aggravated assault and breach of bail.

The inmate who has made the allegations is in custody after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery. He has not yet been sentenced.

A Corrections source said if the inmate had falsely claimed his fellow prisoners had drugged and sexually assaulted him, his future “would be very interesting’’.

“If he has made this up for his own purposes he is in a spot of bother,’’ the source said.

“It won’t be just the three he has made the allegations against he will have to worry about, everyone will be lining him up wherever they put him.’’

The ongoing investigations will also determine how the illegal tattoo gun and needles were smuggled into F Division and whether or not the inmate was complicit in the other inmates tattooing his body.

The large, amateurish tattoos contain derogatory, sexually explicit words and imagery. They were described by a Corrections source as “horrific and grotesque”.

In 2020 there were 560 incidents in which contraband was confiscated in SA’s prisons. Of those, 150 were at Yatala.

Of the 150 incidents of confiscated contraband at Yatala, 63 were related to illicit substances, 31 were related to smoking (including tobacco, matches, lighters, papers) and 56 were related to any other item that is prohibited within a prison environment such as mobile phones, home brews and prescription medication.