Author ‘baffled’ after prison blocks book of ‘hope’

A Melbourne prison has come under fire after it blocked a book about second chances at life written by a former ice addict.

Melbourne’s maximum security Metropolitan Remand Centre.

A prison has come under criticism for blocking a book billed as a story of hope and redemption.

Breaking Good is about Melbourne businessman Simon Fenech, whose life spiralled into crime and violence when he became addicted to ice.

Fenech has since rebuilt his life and is operations manager at Fruit2work, which delivers produce to corporate and other organisations.

The company employs other former prisoners and, Mr Fenech says, has a 100 per cent record in preventing reoffending.

Author of Breaking Good, Simon Fenech.

But a woman whose husband is in the maximum security Metropolitan Remand Centre because of crimes fuelled by ice addiction said management stopped her from sending the book to him recently.

Breaking Good co-author Neil Bramwell said the decision was baffling.

He said the book in no way glorified crime, instead showing its futility while sending a message that there is another way.

“The reason we wrote the book is to provide hope for people who have been in Simon’s position,” Mr Bramwell said.

“It’s a story about someone whose life took some wrong turns and how quickly you can descend into that spiral. It’s about offenders being given another chance.”

Mr Bramwell said Fenech had previously given talks inside prisons about his experiences.

A Corrections Victoria spokeswoman said prisoners at Metropolitan Remand Centre can receive up to three approved books, magazines or newspapers per visit but acceptance was entirely at the discretion of prison staff.

Former kickboxing champion Simon Fenech was once being chased by the Melbourne underworld and police after he fell into the nefarious world of drug dealing. Picture: Supplied

“Items that contain drug material or any other themes deemed inappropriate are not accepted,” the spokeswoman said.

Corrections Victoria did not respond specifically to Mr Fenech’s book being disallowed.

The Herald Sun understands publications that contains erotica, nudity, military or weaponry related articles, tattoo publications, hydroponic or homebrew material, depictions of excessive violence or offensive material are not accepted at prisons.

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