Prison officer is charged with having a relationship with 30-year-old female inmate at western Sydney jail
- The male guard, 20, is charged with having an affair with a female inmate, 30
- Young man was charged with causing a safety risk to a correctional centre
- The charge comes under new laws introduced after a spate of such relationships
A young prison guard has been charged with allegedly having a relationship with an older female inmate.
The 20-year-old male corrections officer was alleged to have been in an inappropriate relationship with the 30-year-old female prisoner at Mary Wade Correctional Centre in Lidcombe, western Sydney.
Detectives from the Corrective Services Investigation Unit began an investigation following reports the pair had been pursuing a relationship.
The man was arrested at Burwood Police station at about 9am on Monday.
The 20-year-old male corrections officer was alleged to have been in an inappropriate relationship with the 30-year-old female prisoner at Mary Wade Correctional Centre
He was charged with the offence of engaging in a relationship with an inmate, causing a safety risk to a correctional centre.
‘Any inappropriate relationships identified at correctional facilities across the state will be brought to the attention of police and charges will be laid,’ Detective Inspector Robert Hollows said.
The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on 25 November.
The arrest came after new laws were introduced last November following a spate of sex offences between prison guards and inmates.
In April, a male prison guard was caught giving a female inmate oral sex in her cell in a Kempsey jail on the New South Wales mid-coast.
Another NSW guard pleaded guilty to writing love letters to a female inmate in July.
A former bikini model turned prison guard (pictured), 24, was accused last week of having an inappropriate relationship with a 41-year-old inmate
Last week, a former bikini model turned prison guard, 24, was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a 41-year-old inmate.
Prior to the new legislation, such relationships weren’t considered a crime.
The penalty for a public or private corrections officer engaging in a relationship with an inmate is up to two years in jail, and/or a fine of up to $2200.
Minister for Corrections David Elliot said in July that he was going to fix the problem, reported news.com.au.
‘It’s an insult to the victims of crime, which is why I’ve started the process to increase the penalties for any officer found having a sexual relationship with an inmate.’