Maryborough Correctional Centre prisoner sentenced for breaching DVO

A phone call made by an inmate at a Queensland Correctional Centre has landed him in court after he discovered his former girlfriend was in a relationship with his best mate.

Inside Maryborough Correctional Centre.

After learning his former girlfriend was in a relationship with his best mate, a prisoner made a threatening phone call to the woman from the correctional centre, telling her he hoped she would die.

The court heard the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to one count of breaching a domestic order when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Monday.

On October 4, 2023, while in custody at Woodford Correctional Centre, the man used the prisoner telephone system to contact a former partner, verbally abusing her and calling her a “c--t”, and a “putrid dog”.

He also threatened her with physical violence, the court was told, saying he would “knock” her when he got out and then telling her “I hope you die, you f---ing maggot”.

Police were contacted and a statement was obtained from the woman, who said the call had made her fearful.

On January 29, 2024, police from Maryborough spoke to the man, who is now in custody at Maryborough Correctional Centre.

The man had been imprisoned after being sentenced for grievous bodily harm, the court was told.

Maryborough Courthouse. Picture: Valerie Horton/ Fraser Coast Chronicle.

The court was told any additional time in prison would be “crushing” for the prisoner, as it would have to be cumulative on his current sentence.

Duty lawyer Morgan Harris said the man had spent his 21st birthday in prison and his time in prison had been “jarring” for him.

He said the breach was a “verbal breach, essentially of good behaviour”.

“The defendant I’m instructed at the time was frustrated.

“He had recently learned that the ex-partner who was the subject of the charge had begun a relationship with his best friend while he was accommodated in the correctional facility.”

While in jail the man had been working in the kitchen and his time in custody was being spent productively, with the man completing a number of courses and undertaking several others to address his drug and alcohol issues.

He had been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and ADHD, Mr Harris said.

Magistrate John Milburn said he was concerned that the offending had happened so soon after the man receiving a lengthy prison sentence for grievous bodily harm and said he regarded the man as “dangerous”.

The man was ordered to serve 70 hours of community service upon his release from prison and a conviction was recorded.

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