Disturbing video shows prison officer bashing inmate
A state-wide review of Corrective Services has been launched after shocking video of a prison officer bashing an inmate has surfaced.
Reports say the violence was sparked when the 45-year-old inmate spat at the officer's face.
The security camera video from inside the cell shows the gate opened and the initial punch thrown by an officer.
After which, the inmate is seen to be repeatedly punched by the guard, while the other officers do nothing to stop the bashing.
Additional security camera video taken from outside the cell shows how the inmate spat from behind the bars, his saliva splattering the guard in the face.
The inmate had been brought to the Newcastle court complex on domestic violence charges, reports say.
Occurring last October, the bashing was reported by another officer who witnessed the incident.
The corrective services union says the guard involved is facing charges, a possible jail sentence of two years, and is living in fear of contracting hepatitis C.
"It's probably the second worst thing a prison officer can face is having an inmate spit on them, especially when they had information that the inmate had hepatitis C." Matt Bindley, from Public Service Association says.
"He's still going through the period of where hep C can become active within his body and he's still going through blood tests and the associated trauma of it." Bindley explains.
Reports say the inmate assaulted in the video has served two months for spitting at the officer, and is now free.
The guard has pleaded guilty to assault, and will be sentenced next month.
In the meantime the guard fears jail time and the possibility of developing a serious health issue.
On the guard's behaviour, "It cannot be justified ... it's the sort of thing for which we put people in jail." Brett Collins from Prisoners Action Group says.
