A serial escapee who poured boiling water mixed with jam and sugar over three fellow prisoners and stabbed another in the mouth with a shiv will be eligible for parole in April next year.
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Cedric Roberts, 22, was sentenced in the ACT Supreme Court last month to one year and nine months' prison for four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
But, when that's added to his existing sentences for unrelated offences, he's looking at having served a total seven years and nine months' jail by the time he's released, or four years and eight months if he gets granted parole.
The existing jail sentences relate to incidents in 2016 and 2017.
In one, Roberts - having been refused bail in the ACT Magistrates Court - made a run for the courtroom exit and knocked a corrections officer to the ground before he was restrained.
In another, Roberts was awaiting treatment at the Canberra Hospital when he was briefly allowed out of handcuffs to go to the toilet.
He bolted for the exit and turned up the next morning at a service station, where he brandished a knife and yelled: "Give me the f----en money, you bastard. Give me the f---en money [sic]."
Police tracked Roberts down and took him back to the hospital that afternoon, but he sprinted off while handcuffed, climbed a fence, and made it into a residential area before he was apprehended again.
On two occasions in October 2016 and April 2017, Roberts lit fires in cells at the Alexander Maconochie Centre and caused more than $18,000 in damage.
In a judgment published on Wednesday, Justice John Burns said Roberts' latest offending happened at the Canberra jail on September 20, 2018.
He said the 22-year-old "jugged" three other inmates, having tipped boiling water mixed with jam and sugar over them, and stabbed a fourth prisoner in the mouth with a shiv.
The three jugged men came away with burns, while the man who was stabbed had to get 10 stitches.
Justice Burns said Roberts was 20 years old when he committed the crimes, and had a childhood "marred by exposure to violence and drug abuse".
He said Roberts' conduct at the Canberra jail had been "initially problematic", but it was "heartening" that there had been no disciplinary reports made against him since May this year.
The judge said Roberts started work as a sweeper at the jail in June.
Before Justice Burns set Roberts a non-parole period of four years and eight months expiring in April 2021, he noted the 22-year-old had already been refused parole earlier this year.
Cassandra Morgan
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
