"Jihad Jack" Thomas, convicted of taking cash from al-Qaida, has been bashed in jail. Joseph Thomas was treated for cuts and bruises after he was attacked in Barwon Prison a week ago. And he has had a mental breakdown, his lawyer, Rob Stary, says. While he wrestles with problems inside the prison system, his parents, Ian and Patsy Thomas, have had to sell their Williamstown home of 33 years to ease the financial burden of their son's legal proceedings. A prison source said an inmate "jumped and belted" Thomas, even though the former taxi driver was held in protective custody. "He might have a broken rib," the source said after Thomas was taken from the Lara jail for treatment. But Mr Stary said Thomas was removed for psychiatric treatment. He said prison life had caused Thomas severe mental trauma - linked to a jail stint in Pakistan "He's had what is tantamount to a breakdown," Mr Stary said. "He is very unwell." Mr Stary said Thomas was taken to Thomas Embling Hospital and then transferred to Port Phillip Prison's psychiatric unit.
Thomas was convicted this year of receiving money and an airline ticket from al-Qaida and of falsifying a passport. He has appealed against the conviction for receiving cash from terrorists. The appeal hearing has been brought forward to next month because of fears for his mental state. Thomas - the first person convicted under new anti-terror laws - is serving a maximum sentence of five years' jail for his crimes. His Supreme Court trial was told Thomas, a father of three, accepted $4750 and a plane ticket home from senior al-Qaida boss Khaled bin Attash in 2002.