Parklea prisoners James Bamblett, Tyson Hornby plead guilty to 15-man riot

Prisoners at the western Sydney’s infamous Parklea prison allegedly fashioned weapons from sporting equipment during a frightening riot. The men charged over the incident have been named.

A frightening riot in Sydney‘s notorious Parklea prison has landed 15 men in court after prisoners allegedly lit fires and fashioned weapons out of table tennis equipment. Picture: Gaye Gerard

A frightening riot in Sydney’s notorious Parklea prison has landed 15 men in court after prisoners allegedly lit fires and fashioned weapons out of table tennis equipment.

For three hours prisoners at the western Sydney prison assembled together for the “common purpose” of disrupting safety from about 1pm on January 19 2022, court documents reveal.

“Prisoners lit mattresses, lounges, clothing, and linen on fire,” the documents allege.

“They damaged the building with physical force and with weapons adapted from the table tennis table.”

Two men involved in the alleged incident – Tyson Hornby, 20, of Toongabbie, and James Brian Blamblett – pleaded guilty at Penrith Local Court on Friday to rioting and damaging property.

For about three hours prisoners at the Western Sydney prison assembled together for the “common purpose” of disrupting safety on January 19 2022, court documents reveal. Picture: Gaye Gerard

The 13 other men allegedly involved in the incident face the same charges.

The inmates allegedly involved in the riot include: Issac Salameh, 28; Mitchell Aaron Drake, 29; Trevor Wickey, 27; Viliane Ratucadre, 30; Quewyn Duschesne, 25; Adriano Leota, 21; Joshua Rice, 26; Riley Smith, 29; Siosiua Afu, 20; and Panashe Karise, 23.

The court heard from multiple lawyers representing the men they would plead guilty next month.

Magistrate Corey said the alleged rioters would likely all receive similar penalties.

“Ultimately, the same judge is going to give the one sentence to all offenders,” he said.

The 15th man charged after the alleged riot, Abbas Saleh, 29, is the only prisoner to contest the charges, after entering pleas of not guilty at Penrith Local Court.

Appearing before the court on Friday, Saleh told Magistrate Corey he would be representing himself – including at a potential trial – after applying three times for legal aid.

Saleh said he could not afford to be represented by a private lawyer.

He will reappear before Penrith Local Court on February 17 for committal.

The rest of the prisoners, except for Bamblett and Tyson, will appear the same day.

Having pleaded guilty, Bamblett and Hyson will return to the court on February 24.

There, they will be committed for sentence in the Penrith District Court, the court heard.