Behind bars: Dark stories from inside notorious Qld prison

From abusive calls made from prison to riots that caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth damage, what goes on behind the walls of Queensland’s prisons might shock you.

From abusive calls made from prison to riots that caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth damage, what goes on behind the walls of Queensland’s prisons might shock you.

Here are six shocking stories from behind the walls of the state’s correctional centres.

Tensions over mass drug withdrawal

Measures put in place to protect Maryborough inmates from the coronavirus pandemic are also behind rising tensions at the prison.

Prisoners have decreased access to illicit substances as a result of the restrictions that have been put in place, a spokesman from Queensland Correctional services said.

“We are aware that some of this tension is related to the decreased availability of illicit substances and we are ramping up our drug and alcohol programs to help address this,” he said.

Home invader threw urine during prison riot

A violent offender, who threw urine at officers during a prison riot while on remand for a disturbing home invasion, will walk free from jail later this year.

Braiddyn Robert Cleland.

Braiddyn Robert Cleland, 23, pleaded guilty in Maryborough District Court on Monday to a number of charges including burglary, wilful damage, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and assault.

The court heard Cleland had been on remand in Woodford Correctional Centre for a violent home invasion when the riot happened.

COVID lockdowns, tension and riots

Tensions have simmered and sometimes boiled over at correctional centres across Queensland over the past 18 months as a combination of overcrowding and COVID restrictions continue to impact on prisoners and prison officers.

Officers responding to rioting inmates at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre. Picture: Annette Dew

In the most serious cases, millions of dollars worth of damage have been caused, including at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre where a riot broke out during a Stage 4 COVID lockdown in September in which 170 cells were trashed.

Meth kingpin busted with drugs in prison cell

A hidden stash of drugs was discovered in the jail cell of a Hervey Bay man who was last year sentenced to seven years in prison for drug trafficking.

Daryl David Hall.

Daryl David Hall, 34, pleaded guilty in Maryborough Magistrates Court to one count of possessing dangerous drugs.

The court heard the convicted drug trafficker, who built a drug empire in Hervey Bay, was busted with 32 Subutex strips after a search of his cell.

‘Don’t worry, you’ll be dead soon’: Man’s jail threats

An inmate at the Maryborough jail threatened his former partner from behind bars, telling her “don‘t worry, you’ll be dead soon. I’ll be out.”

The 34-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in Maryborough Magistrates Court to one count of contravening a domestic violence order.

The court heard despite a no-contact condition in the order, he added his former partner to his contact list under a false name.

Death threats, fires amid dinner dispute at jail

A dispute over dinner at the Maryborough jail turned into a riot that cost taxpayers $68,000.

Joshua Leonard John Watson-Scully, 24, pleaded guilty in Maryborough District Court to one charge of riot.

Joshua Leonard John Watson-Scully.

The court heard Watson Scully was housed in a secure unit on October 27, 2018 when, about, 4.30pm prisoners started complaining about the food.