Weapons Found In Bush Near Prison
Newcastle Herald
Thursday November 4, 2004
A LETTER from a Cessnock jail inmate has allegedly led police and corrective services to uncover a cache of weapons just kilometres from the prison.
The weapons, which included electronic detonators, a rifle, thousands of rounds of ammunition, a bowie knife and a machete, were discovered in a crude hideaway police suspect was used as a base for hunting.Sources said it did not appear the weapons were being stored to be used during an escape bid.The Department of Corrective Services head of security, Assistant Commissioner Don Rogers, last night praised a prison officer who opened a letter written by a minimum-security inmate.Mr Rogers said the officer became suspicious of the letter, which was addressed to a Cessnock man, because it seemed bulkier than normal.Inside the envelope, the intelligence officer found a map of bush just outside of Cessnock, which a department spokeswoman said yesterday was between five kilometres and 10 kilometres from the prison.The exact location was not disclosed."Police were contacted and in the company of the prison intelligence officer found a cache of weapons hidden beneath a plastic raincoat and covered with vegetation," a press release said."The cache included a bolt-action rifle, 2000 rounds of ammunition, a quantity of electronic detonators and detonation cords, a machete, a Bowie knife and an army utility belt."Mr Rogers said the inmate who allegedly wrote the letter had been transferred to the jail's maximum-security wing.The Herald has learnt the inmate in question was serving a jail term for disqualifed driving and larceny matters and was due for release next July."There is no suggestion that the items were destined for the institution," Mr Rogers said.Corrective Service Commissioner Ron Woodham also praised prison staff."The staff are to be commended for their vigilance and the interception of the letter once again proves the value of our training methods," Mr Woodham said.But the public release of the find has bemused some police, who had been told by Corrective Services on Tuesday not to release any information for fear it could uncover "operational strategies".The Herald has also learned that although the department said it had found 2000 rounds of ammunition, most of the rounds were spent.And the small number of live rounds found at the scene were for another rifle and not the .243 calibre bolt-action rifle found in the bush.Police are investigating and charges are expected to be laid.
© 2004 Newcastle Herald