Patterson is a “keen crocheter” and inside her cell she has access to wool, a hair straightener, books, magazines, television and a computer, the court was told on Monday.

She has been housed in protective isolation for much of that time, spending about 22 to 24 hours per day alone in her cell, because of the “notoriety” of her offending, barrister Colin Mandy SC told the court.

Corrections Victoria assistant commissioner Jenny Hosking was called by prosecutors to discuss Patterson’s conditions behind bars.

She said short staffing at the women’s prison, because of inmate numbers dropping over the COVID-19 pandemic, had led to more lockdowns which restricted movement for inmates.

Patterson, 50, has a small courtyard attached to her cell, but Mandy said she had not been given regular access to it.

He said prison officers had approved Patterson’s access to speak to a fellow prisoner in the courtyard, through a mesh fence, but she had not spoken “one word to that other prisoner”.

Mandy said the prisoner was serving a sentence for terrorism and had attacked another inmate while in custody.

“There has been no request by Ms Patterson for access to that person,” he said.

Mandy claimed she had only been given access to the prison library “a handful of times” and had to be taken there in a prison van escorted by two guards, where she is given 20 minutes to be inside.

He said she had tried to go to the leisure centre, but each time she visited it had been locked and her access to her unit’s lounge area had been minimal.

Hosking said Patterson’s high profile and details of her offending meant her safety was at risk, but her placement in the protective unit would be continually reviewed.

But Mandy argued her placement in isolation was permanent because the “notoriety of these offences is not likely to diminish”.