Daniel Ian Gray sentenced for mutiny after prison riot

The extent of a prison riot over Covid lockdowns has been revealed in court with one cell being flooded and inmates burning a mattress.

Maryborough Correctional Centre - secure unit 6.

An inmate has been sentenced for his part in a prison riot that led to a code red being called at a Queensland Correctional Centre.

Daniel Ian Gray, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of mutiny in relation to a riot at Maryborough Correctional Centre when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court this week.

The charge relates to a major disturbance at the jail on January 24, 2022.

The court was told there had been a Covid lockdown at the prison and inmates had been required to move cells.

Several inmates refused, with some setting mattresses on fire and another causing his cell to flood.

In contrast, Gray’s actions had been quite minor, the court heard, smashing a window inside his cell.

The court was told Gray was in a “volatile, agitated state” when the window was smashed, but it was also done in part to let air in as smoke spread from the mattress that had been set on fire.

He had to be treated for smoke inhalation as a result of the fire set by another prisoner.

The court heard it was towards the end of the Covid lockdowns but lockdowns were still occurring frequently and Gray had been in prison since August, 2020.

Gray had a partner and the two had plans to start a life together, possibly opening a cafe in Brisbane, once he was released from prison.

Judge Suzanne Sheridan said Gray had a concerning criminal history, which was littered with serious violent offences.

His parole eligibility date for the offending that landed him in prison had been reached just a month before the incident, Ms Sheridan said.

“On the day of this offending, I’m told that your unit had again been placed in lockdown and I accept what your counsel has said to me that in fact you were in prison from August 23, 2020, and ... therefore periods of significant isolation,” she said.

Maryborough Correctional Centre.

“I agree with your counsel that that is a relevant factor for the court to consider.

“But on that day corrective service officers were concerned and were proposing that there be some separation of prisoners and to move them to separate units.

“You had been spoken to by the officers and given an opportunity to cooperate.”

But Gray had refused to move, Ms Sheridan said.

Others in the unit were also agitated, she said, with one flooding a cell, which caused overflow to the lower floor, which meant water and power to the unit was cut off.

That led to the prison going on code yellow and then code red, Ms Sheridan said, requiring additional officers to respond as a fire had been started.

Gray had broken a window in his cell, she said, but had suffered smoke inhalation as a result of the fire.

Batons, shields, the dog squad and the use of chemical agents were used to contain the situation and move the prisoners.

“It was potentially very dangerous behaviour,” she said.

But he was not the instigator of the incident, Ms Sheridan said.

Gray was sentenced to 10 months in prison and given immediate parole eligibility.