Risdon inmate Christopher Craig Banks behind bars for six more months over prison guard assaults

A Risdon Prison inmate will spend an extra six months behind bars after assaulting correctional officers on two different occasions.

Risdon Prison. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

A RISDON Prison inmate will spend an extra six months behind bars after assaulting correctional officers on two different occasions.

Christopher Craig Banks pleaded guilty to the charges before Magistrate Chris Webster at the Hobart Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

On November 23, 2017, and December 9, 2018, Banks punched or attempted to punch prison officers in the head and face.

Representing himself, Banks said he had battled ongoing mental health issues and the assaults had come about because of misunderstandings.

“I don’t see eye-to-eye with lots of people, but I don’t go and assault them,” Mr Webster said.

“I have to send a message to the public at large that if you go to prison, you cannot assault correctional officers.

“It’s a difficult job to do [and] they’re entitled to protection by society and the courts.”

Mr Webster sentenced Banks to six months imprisonment, which will be served following his 18-month sentence for dangerous driving.

In May last year, Banks was sentenced to imprisonment after speeding through heavy traffic across three suburbs and dodging road spikes to evade arrest.