Convicted Australian terrorism offender becomes viral jailhouse TV cook

One of Australia’s convicted terrorism offenders has gone viral in the prison population with his fitness series and TV cooking show in jail where he makes custard slice. See the video.

Exclusive: He wants a new life, eventually a wife and a chance to make his caramel custard slice on the outside.

This 27 year old entered prison as a convicted terrorism offender, but will soon depart a changed man — known now for his jailhouse TV cooking show which has gone viral.

He is the “accidental” leading man in a series of life-skills tutorials prison bosses have been rolling out in Australian jails to educate and help reform criminals.

And for the first time, News Corp can reveal the strict police monitoring he and others may face, when they finally leave their cells, right down to a simple trip to McDonalds.

Watch the exclusive video above.

A young man charged with terror offences has served 8 years in prison and is soon to be released. Picture: David Swift

In the first episode of MAC TV — named after the maximum security Macquarie jail, in Dubbo, NSW — the prisoner, who we can’t identify for legal reasons, makes a caramel, custard-slice using prison buy-up ingredients.

“Obviously us guys (inmates) are tough guys so you can use your knuckles like me (to smash the biscuit base),” he tells viewers.

The prisoner makes a caramel custard-slice using prison buy-up ingredient on the TV show.

Here, he’s also explaining how the caramel custard-slice is made to other prisoners.

The inmate, who came to Macquarie from Supermax after completing the Countering Violent Extremism rehabilitation program, has also produced a popular exercise series called “Crimfit”, using his Certificate III fitness credentials obtained while in prison.

Corrective Services Commissioner Kevin Corcoran said the success of the inmate-led TV production — believed to be the first of its kind in the world — was almost accidental.

NSW Correctional Services Commissioner Kevin Corcoran at Goulburn Supermax prison.

“We didn’t plan this, it just happened, it is the really weird thing. The things that happened there have made a real difference to people’s lives,” he said.

Commissioner Corcoran is so committed to the series, he is bringing in a reality TV producer to hone the inmates’ on-camera skills.

The caramel custard-slice up close.

The MAC TV star prisoner, who’s eight-year sentence expires later in the year, is ready to restart his life and has spent a lot of time reflecting on how he went off the rails, aged 20.

“I was partying doing all the stuff you really shouldn’t be doing (including drugs),” he said.

He was aggressive and swearing at police — and that carried over into jail.

“I was just constantly getting charged (in the Supermax, where he spent five years). I had no TV for the first year because of the charges,” he said.

The prisoner puts his finishing touches on the custard slice.

His wake-up call came from another inmate, with a similar background, who took him aside and convinced him he had to change if he ever wanted to get out.

“From that day, I started calming down. And I started realising all these things. I started because I (was) maybe maturing, even. I realised that not everyone is bad in the police or corrective services,” he said.

That led to the rehabilitation program and formal education, including studies in computer literacy and numeracy, TV production and public speaking.

“Even in jail I don’t tell people my charges straight away,” he said, referencing how quickly people judge him.

“I left them get to know me first.

“Get to know us and see what we are about.”

The young prisoner sat down with News Corp journalist, Natalie O’Brien to talk about his experiences. Picture: David Swift

When he gets out, he is likely to be stringently watched and pounced on if he puts a foot wrong.

If he is subject to a supervision order, he will be required to submit a minute-by-minute movement schedule for approval, three days in advance.

From going through a drive-through Maccas to having a haircut and visiting the library, the level of detail that must be provided is extensive. He and others even need to outline the car make and model they will drive and the exact route they intend to take.

Any deviation they make must be reported immediately.

But, after his jail stint, he accepts that as a fair price for his freedom.

He is keen to get a job, help his family, eventually find a wife and family of his own and do all of the things he once loved — go to beach and gym and eat his mum’s home cooked food.

His message for the public is he and other “boys” like him who will be coming out of jail just want to live a normal life.

“You don’t need to be scared of us.”

Originally published as Convicted Australian terrorism offender becomes viral jailhouse TV cook