David Lewis Richardson pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs

A Qld prisoner was busted with heroin and a makeshift syringe in his cell. It wasn’t the only illegal find.

An inmate at Maryborough Correctional Centre was caught with drugs.

An inmate who was busted with heroin, cannabis and restricted drugs in his cell has faced court.

David Lewis Richardson pleaded guilty via videolink in Maryborough Magistrates Court to three counts of possessing dangerous drugs.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Balam Selvadurai said the charges related to less than one gram of cannabis, less than one gram of heroin and 20 strips of a restricted drug.

Sgt Selvadurai suggested a head sentence of six months in prison for the possession of heroin.

Richardson, a prisoner at Maryborough Correctional Centre, represented himself in court during the short appearance.

He said he was “happy” with the sentence suggested by Sgt Selvadurai.

“I don’t want to waste the court’s time on it,” he told Magistrate John Milburn.

“I’m sure Your Honour will be fair,” Richardson said.

Mr Milburn said he did share the views expressed by Sgt Selvadurai.

“The quantity of heroin is less than one gram,” he said.

“It occurs within the context of a correctional centre.

Maryborough Correctional Centre.

“It therefore is a serious matter, particularly against the background of your history.

“You are currently serving a substantial term of imprisonment, being a total of four years, backdated to October 7, 2022.”

Richardson had been eligible to apply for parole, Mr Milburn said.

He said the facts of the current matter were that on April 18, 2025, while a prisoner and in his cell, a corrective services officer had observed Richardson “turn and face away from a camera”.

A prison-made syringe and a small white coloured package was observed, Mr Milburn said.

Mr Milburn said a prison sentence was the only proportionate sentence.

“Your history involves most recently drug related matters from 2021 and serious assault of police officers from 2021,” he said.

Mr Milburn gave Richardson a head sentence of six months, wholly suspended for a period of 12 months.

In relation to suspended sentences already hanging over Richardson, Mr Milburn said he would not invoke those given the crushing effect it would have if he was to do so, but he did extend the operational period for an additional three months.

Convictions were recorded.