Underworld figure Shayne Hatfield dies in Parklea Jail

One of the biggest names in the Sydney underworld has died in jail, not long after being released and re-arrested.

A photo of Shayne Hatfield surfing in Bali in 1997 that he signed.

Ex-surfer turned cocaine kingpin Shayne Desmond Hatfield has suicided in jail.

Hatfield, one of the most well known names from Sydney’s old school underworld, was found dead inside Parklea Jail on Friday, according to a spokesperson for the prison.

Closing in on his 60th birthday, the organised crime figure had only recently been released from jail after serving 18 years in jail over a notorious $30 million drug smuggling operation involving corrupt baggage handlers at Sydney Airport that police uncovered in 2004.

The syndicate involved ex rugby league player Les Mara and criminal mastermind Michael Hurley.

Hatfield walked out of jail in December 2022 but was on remand after being arrested late last year over an assault on his girlfriend, a prison nurse he formed a relationship with while he was behind bars.

One of the only known photos of Shayne Hatfield.

“He had some (mental) issues and he just couldn’t stand to do another day in jail,” a source close to Hatfield said.

The Saturday Telegraph has also been told that prison staff had been warned Hatfeld was a suicide risk.

The prison is run by private company MTC, which is contracted by the NSW Government.

MTC did not respond to questions about the alleged warnings that Hatifeld was suicidal.

Hatfield surfing in Bali 1n 1997.

“Officers found the man unresponsive in his cell on Friday morning and immediately performed CPR, but he was pronounced deceased by the on-site doctor at approximately 8:30am,” an MTC spokesperson said.

“MTC Australia extends its sympathies to the man’s family and friends.

“As a matter of protocol, Corrective Services NSW and NSW Police investigate all deaths in custody, regardless of the circumstances,” the spokesperson said.

The matter will now be referred to the NSW Coroner.

Shayne Hatfield leaving Central Local Court in Sydney

Hatfield’s exploits with the airport smuggling syndicate earned him the tag of one of Sydney’s first cocaine kingpins.

“He got into the drug industry because it was cool as much as anything else,” a source said. “He was just good at it.”

Mara was jailed for a minimum of 13 years while Hurley died in jail, aged 61, in 2007 before he faced trial.

While in jail in 2014, Hatfield conspired with ex-boxer “Lucky” Gattellari to defraud multi-millionaire murderer Ron Medich of $80 million in a scheme linked to disgraced cop Roger Rogerson.

In 2019, Hatifled was jailed for a maximum three years and four months over the plot while Gattellari was sentenced to a maximum four years and four months.