Trent Barrett and Jacob Cavanagh: bloody syringe found in watchhouse search

Two alleged Queensland jail rioters, moved to a police cell ahead of sentencing, could face fresh charges after a court heard they spent “an unusual amount of time in the watchhouse toilet together”.

A judge has refused to sentence two prisoners on riot charges after one was allegedly discovered with a bloody syringe wedged between his buttocks while the two were in a watchhouse cell together.

Trent Tyson Barrett and Jacob Dean Cavanagh were both scheduled to be sentenced separately in Rockhampton District Court on Thursday morning for their alleged involvement in the October 2021 Capricornia Correctional Centre riot.

Allegations about potential drug use in the watchhouse came to the court’s attention before Mr Barrett was brought up from the cells to the courtroom.

Judge Jeff Clarke, upon hearing of the allegations, requested a report before proceedings for the prisoners took place.

When court resumed, he outlined what that report entailed.

“Both offenders are kept in separate units at the Capricornia Correctional Centre but requested to be housed together here in the watchhouse,” Judge Clarke said.

After the pair was transported to the watchhouse for their sentences, “both spent an unusual amount of time in the watchhouse toilet together” and were then searched.

Judge Clarke said one of the men was found with a bloody syringe between his buttocks, it was believed to be empty of any other substance.

“It is unknown if one or both injected an unknown substance,” he said.

“Monitoring will be required before they are moved, I would hope, to different jails.”

Judge Clarke said he would not deal with them on Thursday as he believed one or both might be under the influence of an illicit drug.

He said the Crown should also have the opportunity to consider whether they would allege further criminal conduct, especially on the day of sentence.

“I will consider to bring contempt proceedings,” Judge Clarke said.

He adjourned both men’s matters to October 23.

Police later charged one of the prisoners, a 29-year-old South Mackay man, with one count of fail to properly dispose of a needle and syringe.

It means he will also appear in the Magistrates Court for this matter, as well as the District Court for the riot charge.