Escape artist: How inmate Graham John Enniss and his accomplice planned Risdon Prison breakout

Graham John Enniss’s prison escape was not a spur-of-the-moment act. Here’s how the plan was conceived and put into action.

A PRISON break that led to a 27-hour police manhunt was reportedly pre-planned and co-ordinated at a time when the prison was short-staffed.

The Mercury can reveal that escapee Graham John Enniss and a fellow inmate, who was unsuccessful in his escape attempt, prepared their escape by using a chair leg to smash a hole in a ceiling at the Ron Barwick Minimum Security Prison the night before the breakout happened.

It is understood scaffolding used in the escape had been built for a mural project for prisoners and had been left erected, despite warnings from staff that the scaffolding should be locked away while the artwork was not being worked on. It is believed the structure was used by Enniss to clear the prison boundary.

Bedsheets were also reportedly used in the escape.

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Enniss slipped past Risdon Prison officers about 8.30am on Monday and remained at large in bushland behind Risdon Vale overnight before he was caught by police off Downhams Rd at 11.40am the next day.

Dozens of household items including a knife, cans of food, a torch and binoculars were found near where Enniss was arrested.

Graham John Enniss.

Police on Tuesday charged Enniss with escaping lawful custody, destroying property, burglary and stealing.

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It will be alleged he stole the supplies that were found in bushland where he was arrested.

The Mercury understands the Ron Barwick facility was understaffed the night Enniss and his accomplice began co-ordinating their escape.

It is understood there were two prison officers on duty at the minimum security facility on Sunday night rather than the usual three because one officer was assigned to accompany a prisoner to hospital.

Graham John Enniss is back inside Risdon Prison. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

When asked about the prisoners’ escape method and the prison’s understaffing, a Department of Justice spokesman told the Mercury “it would not be appropriate to comment as the investigation into this incident is ongoing”.

Labor Corrections spokeswoman Ella Haddad on Tuesday said the State Government had failed to ensure the Tasmanian community was protected from future prison escapes by “violent criminals”.

Minister for Corrections Elise Archer said the recruitment for up to 90 correctional officers was underway.