Man Caught Allegedly Trying To Throw Drugs into Cessnock Correctional Facility Hidden Inside Tennis Ball

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man will face court on Wednesday after he allegedly attempted to throw prohibited drugs concealed inside a tennis ball, over the fence of Cessnock Correctional Facility. 

On May 31st, police allege a 31-year-old man and another man were riding on an unregistered Yamaha motorcycle – believed to be stolen from a Dora Creek property in May – when they approached the outer wall of a correctional facility at Cessnock and attempted to throw an object over the wall.

Officers were conducting targeted surveillance at the complex when they sighted the two men.

When they approached the pair, they fled at speed on the motorcycle before colliding with a nearby tree. Neither rider was injured.

The officers restrained the 31-year-old man while the other man fled into nearby bushland.

Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended a short time later and arrested the 31-year-old.

Police seized a tennis ball which he was holding at the time of his arrest, which they will allege contained small amounts of methylamphetamine, and other illicit substances subject to further testing.

The 31-year-old man has since been charged with eight offences, formally refused bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday June 10th.

Inquiries are continuing.

Cessnock Prison Officer Caught Smuggling Claims Inmates Pressured Him

BY IAN CROUCH

A prison officer who was caught smuggling contraband into Cessnock Gaol says he felt pressured to do it.

Beau Martin told police the smuggling started with small-time items like food, toothbrushes and cologne, but then progressed to banned items like tobacco and mobile phones.

The 30-year-old says he complied with inmates demands because they threatened him, saying they knew where his son lived.

Fairfax reports Martin was paid more than $2,000 to bring contraband into the gaol -he's pleaded guilty to two counts of agent corruptly receiving a benefit, two counts of unlawfully delivering items to an inmate and attempting to bring prohibited drugs into gaol.

Martin will be sentenced in May.