Douglas Dodds, 25, was the first rioter sentenced in Dubbo Local Court on Thursday.

According to court documents, the riot began at at Wellington Correctional Centre after a fire alarm in one of the pods went off at about 12.20pm on April 11.

Corrections officers arrived to find one of the cells engulfed in flames.

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The 41 inmates from that pod were transferred to the recreation yard due to the amount of smoke that had accumulated. However, a riot broke out as inmates were non-compliant and began causing extensive damage smashing windows, security cameras, walls and furniture.

Due to the behaviour of inmates, correctional officers initiated a full lockdown.

According to police inmates began to throw various items at staff who were forced to "retreat due to fear of injury".

A number of inmates armed themselves with weapons by dismantling a barbecue, while some inmates gained access to the roof via the exercise yard.

Additional officers from the neighbouring Macquarie Correctional Centre were called along with specialist officers from Lithgow and the dog unit for backup.

Chemical munitions were also released in order to stop the riot, which lasted for three hours and 45 minutes.

A total of 25 inmates have been charged over the riot, which according to police involved 284 inmates.

Police said the total cost to the damages was around $119,000.

In Dubbo Local Court Dodds pleaded guilty to riot, destroy or damage property, armed with intent to commit and indictable offence, and committing an offence while having a previous conviction.

During CCTV footage of the riot played in court, police prosecutor Sergeant Monica Howard, said Dodds could be seen with a metal bracket taken from a barbecue and using it to repeatedly smash the rear window of a common room.

Defence lawyer Ivy Johnson said Dodds had grown up in Dubbo in an environment abused by drugs and alcohol, and had been in and out of custody.

However Ms Johnson said since the riot he'd been released from custody, secured a job and relocated to Bonnyrigg.

"He's been doing well he's been back in the community, and he hasn't reoffended," Ms Johnston said.

"To his credit he's removed himself [from Dubbo]."

Magistrate Gary Wilson said Dodds had chosen to take part in the riot and played an "active role" by damaging the windows.

Magistrate Wilson said there had been very little decided case law of recent times, because rioting doesn't happen often.

"This is the first time I've ever had to deal with this type of offending," he told the court.

"In your case you chose to participate in the riot, and quite a number chose not to."

Due to Dodds' progress since being released from jail in February, Magistrate Wilson sentenced him to a nine-month term of imprisonment to be served in the community for 12 months as an intensive corrections order.