Police have laid charges against a former prison guard who was caught up in a sex scandal

POLICE have laid charges against a former prison guard who was caught up in a sex scandal after it was revealed she allegedly slept with a convicted cop killer.

POLICE have laid charges against a former prison guard who was caught up in a sex scandal after it was revealed she allegedly slept with a convicted cop killer.

The woman, who was previously working at the Mid-North Coast correctional centre at Kempsey, has been charged with misconduct in public office and larceny after police swooped on her Smithtown home yesterday.

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It was revealed last month the 34-year-old had allegedly had a sexual relationship with convicted gunman Sione Penisini, who shot dead a policeman in 2002.

The 34-year-old woman was arrested at a home at Smithtown about 2.15pm on Thursday. Picture: NSW Police

The woman being taken away in the back of a police vehicle. Picture: NSW Police

NSW Police Acting Commander Stuart Smith told radio station 2GB the allegations involved her dealings with multiple prisoners.

“Information in relation to the facility and other prisoners was passed to prisoners — that will be the allegation,” he said.

Police will allege in court that between July 2 and 22 she passed on sensitive information to prisoners, engaged in an intimate relationship with a prisoner, and failed to disclose a conflict of interest, relating to her duties at a correctional facility on the Mid North Coast.

The Corrective Services NSW employee was charged following an investigation into misconduct within a correctional facility on the Mid North Coast last month. Picture: NSW Police

The woman also allegedly collected a parcel from a post box in June, which was addressed to someone else, and allegedly kept the contents of the package.

She has been granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Kempsey Local Court on August 20.

NSW Police Acting Commander Stuart Smith slammed the woman’s alleged offending as “appalling” if proven, saying the allegations extended beyond her interactions with just one prisoner.

“The allegation will be that information, sensitive information in relation to the facility and other prisoners, was passed to prisoners — that will be the allegation,” he told Ray Hadley on 2GB.

“If proven in a court obviously it’s appalling behaviour.

“It’s obviously been a very public matter and I’m happy to say that it’s now before a court to allow a judge to deal with the matter.”

Police will allege that between July 2 and 22 she passed on sensitive information to prisoners. Picture: NSW Police

Ray Hadley said on air the second charge of larceny was related to the alleged theft of jewellery at a post office after a package was placed in the incorrect PO box.

Minister for Corrections David Elliott said in a statement he welcomed the development.

“I maintain my support for establishing a statutory offence covering inappropriate relationships between an inmate and a prison officer,” he said.

“Taskforce Themis was established this week, led by Mark Murdoch, to investigate matters in the last ten years.

“I encourage anyone who has information to send it to this confidential email: [e-mail].”