Vaughan Vati Teleni Hunt had ‘significant conflict’ with inmates
A former Long Bay prison officer is seeking protection if he is to be jailed alongside prisoners he used to guard.
Police & Courts
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A guard who smuggled drugs, phones and steroids into Long Bay Prison for inmates will be targeted behind bars if he does time, according to his barrister.
Over three months in 2019, Vaughan Vati Teleni Hunt, 29, met inmates’ relatives around Sydney who gave him unknown parcels, then delivered them to prisoners, unbeknown to his employers or work mates.
Hunt was due to be sentenced in the District Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to dealing with the proceeds of crime and corruptly receiving about $12,000.
But his barrister Matthew Breeze asked for an adjournment, telling the court he had to confirm whether his client would be protected if he was jailed.
Hunt experienced “significant conflict” with certain inmates in his three years on the job, Mr Breeze told the court.
“He will probably do it harder in jail than would otherwise be the case,” he said.
“If he is in strict protection, his time in custody will be significantly more onerous and that is a matter your honour should take into account.”
Mr Breeze told the court he would ask for his client to serve an Intensive Correction Order in the community, but accepted a jail term was likely.
Mr Breeze told the court he would inquire if protection arrangements were made for former prison officers.
“I don‘t know if they have a policy of what they would do with their own,” he said.
Judge Garry Neilson said this inquiry should have been sought “a long time ago”, as the sentence hearing date was set late last year.
After some back and forth, Judge Neilson adjourned the matter for a hearing on May 14, when Hunt is expected to take the stand and give evidence.
According to facts tendered to the court, Hunt told police he agreed to smuggle in the contraband because was strapped for cash and had a gambling problem.
He was fired after the allegations came to light, the court heard.
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