Trevor Shane Hunter: Prisoner starts fire, sparks riot

A Lavington man caused a prison riot when he set fire to his mattress at Wellington Correctional Centre causing thousands of dollars in damages.

A man has escaped more time behind bars after he set his mattress alight in his Wellington Correctional Centre cell, sparking a riot.

A Lavington man who set his mattress on fire and started a prison riot that caused thousands of dollars in damages has avoided another jail sentence.

Trevor Shane Hunter, 36, faced Albury Local Court on Monday, May 17 after he pleaded guilty to destroying and damaging property by fire.

The court heard the fire alarm went off at Wellington Correctional Centre about 12.15pm on April 11, 2020.

Staff found Hunter’s cell engulfed in flames, which caused $6750 in damages.

Hunter and his cellmate were removed before the fire was extinguished.

Inmates from his cell had to be evacuated and were placed in the recreation yard due to smoke caused by the fire.

While there, the court heard the inmates were “non-compliant”, starting a riot that caused “extensive damage”.

Hunter’s defence solicitor Bronte Winn said her client “didn’t realise other people would be rioting as a result of his actions”.

She said Hunter had been out of prison since June 2020, and was doing well on parole.

Magistrate Richard Funston said Hunter’s offending was “really serious”.

“I think the message has to be out there that anyone who destroys or damages property in a jail, the first step would be jail time,” Mr Funston said.

“This charge of setting your mattress alight in the prison is really serious.

“I have to take into account you have a lengthy criminal history and have had a number of jail sentences including for destroying property.”

Hunter was sentenced to a four-month intensive corrections order.

He must continue to engage with mental health services.