A Perth judge handed down a seemingly soft custodial sentence to a serious criminal who bashed an 89-year-old man, citing the outrageous conditions of Hakea Prison as unacceptable and arguably inhuman.

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Eamon Ryan, Inspector of Custodial Services, explained to Perth Today host Simon Beaumont that he wasn’t surprised by the ruling, as overcrowding and significant staff shortages have led to appalling conditions and minimal access to rehabilitation.

“Everybody in prison bar a very small percentage are gonna get out some day and their going to be standing next to you at the football or their going to be standing next to you at the supermarket, or living down the road from your grandmother and you want them to be better when they come out than what they were when they went in,” he said.

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Image: WAtoday | Fairfax