A Riverina man who punched a prison officer and kicked off hours of unrest in jail will spend more time behind bars, with a magistrate saying she had no choice but to extend his sentence.
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Kevin John Williams appeared at Wagga Local Court on Monday for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting a law enforcement officer in the execution of their duty and inflicting actual bodily harm, and being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence.
In December last year, the 26-year-old man was imprisoned at Junee Correctional Facility for other matters when an officer walked past his cell and noticed a scratch on his neck.
When Williams said he "fell in the shower", emergency protocols were engaged by the victim who thought something had happened to him.
But when he tried to close the cell door, Williams pushed it back into him and then punched the officer in the face.
Williams then picked up the steel end of a vacuum cleaner, which he later admitted was to intimidate the officer.
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Other inmates exited their cells, and the assault of the officer kicked off four hours of unrest in prison.
In court on Monday, solicitor Louise Dart said he was the victim of an assault right before the incident.
"The officer has come to check on him. His mental health mixed with the adrenaline has made him feel like he has been set up," she said.
Ms Dart also added that he admitted to what he had done straight away.
Magistrate Miranda Moody said it was "so sad because he keeps on doing this" and that it appears Williams does not want to change the course of history.
"I note the offender made full admissions," she said.
"The offender comes before the court with a very sad and unrelenting record ... he has a sad and traumatic life.
"He has used heroin, cannabis, and ice since the age of 17."
Magistrate Moody said she had no choice to impose a custodial sentence, and it saddened her.
Williams was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with a non-parole period of six months. This is backdated to commence on March 12, and he is eligible for parole on September 11.
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