Child sex offender claims he was sexually abused in prison by other inmates

A child sex offender who was jailed after pleading guilty to 13 abuse charges has complained about being assaulted in the prison kitchen.

A child sex offender sent to prison after abusing six teenage girls has complained about being sexually “touched up” by other prisoners.

Prison officials have now been forced to move him into a protection unit.

Justin Matthews was sentenced to 15 years in prison – with a non-parole period of seven and a half years – after pleading guilty to 13 child abuse charges.

Matthews complained to prison authorities following an alleged incident on June 22.

Matthews was in an area of Shortland Correctional Centre known as “smaps” – or special management area protection – when he alleged he was sexually assaulted while in the communal kitchen.

A prison source said ­Matthews alleged two other child sex offenders, a child murderer and an armed robber took part in the assault, which included inappropriately touching him.

After the incident, Matthews was seen by Justice Health, with NSW Police notified the decision was made he was not required to be transferred to a hospital for further assessment.

Matthews was sentenced in the Newcastle District Court in November last year, which heard distressing details about the charges.

These charges included the sexual assault of a child, ­possessing child abuse ­material, using a child to make child abuse material, grooming a child for sexual activity and using a carriage service to send indecent material to a person under 16.

The court heard how the Upper Hunter man had groomed a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat and then abused her more than 50 times over several years. He met up with her to have sex in a bush and at a motel. He was 33 at the time.

Police facts detailed how Matthews and the girl, who is not related to him, would meet on the train and at his home on several occasions, as well as at a Charlestown motel.

The court heard he had sex with the victim more than 50 times. He also made child abuse material of the young girl, producing 75 images and 10 videos of a sexual nature.

The abuse of the teen girls began in mid-2016 and continued until he was arrested in January 2021. He will be eligible for parole in 2029.

A NSW Corrective Services spokeswoman confirmed an inmate had approached the department on June 23 to report an alleged sexual assault.

“The man reported he had been touched inappropriately by other inmates while in a communal kitchen area,” she said. “The inmate was seen by Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health staff and NSW Police was notified.

“The inmate was placed on a protection order while the matter is investigated.”

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