Chase Reon Scott, an Australian 501 deportee, racked up six convictions in a matter of weeks at the Otago Corrections Facility and was yesterday jailed for two years eight months when he appeared before the Dunedin District Court.
The 30-year-old’s rampage began on January 12 when his request to use hair clippers was declined by prison staff.
He destroyed the TV in his cell and officers, fearing self-harm, forced their way inside.
The victim, a 57-year-old senior staffer, entered with three colleagues and Scott immediately punched him twice in the head.
The defendant was dragged to the ground and restrained but was able to bite the victim’s finger.
The court heard the deep laceration became infected and required minor surgery to remove the rotting flesh.
Only days later, a 31-year-old female officer responded after a prisoner made a call on the emergency intercom.
She found Scott exposing himself, "pushing his genitals up at the glass [frontage of his cell] and laughing".
"The Corrections officer felt so uncomfortable that she was required to gather her thoughts in the staff base," court documents said.
Scott continued to abuse the woman over the intercom with racist jibes and taunts about his genitalia.
In March, the defendant followed up his acts with separate threats to the two victims.
When Scott saw the victim from the first incident he threatened: "If I get outside charges from this, I will kill you and your family."
Two days later, he targeted the female officer.
"He made threats to stab her in the neck with a razor blade and have his associates hunt her down on the outside," a summary said.
Counsel Deborah Henderson said her client — a father of two — had lived in Australia for 22 years before being deported in April last year.
The court heard he had various psychological and intellectual issues which resulted in poor emotional regulation.
During yesterday’s hearing, Judge Kevin Phillips ordered the video link from prison be muted because Scott continued to interrupt.
In March, he was jailed for 11 months after the armed offenders squad was called out over a machete attack.
Scott was similarly disruptive during that hearing, making crass gestures and leaving the dock before the sentencing was completed.
He was convicted of injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, doing an indecent act, two counts of threatening to kill and two of wilful damage.
