Young prison officer denies alleged jailhouse romance with older inmate
A NSW prison officer has denied being in a relationship with an older female inmate – but a magistrate has masked their identities to save them from danger and embarrassment.
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A court has masked the identity of a prison officer and his alleged inmate lover to spare the pair “embarrassing” and potentially dangerous attention.
The 20-year-old Corrective Services NSW officer appeared in Burwood Local Court on Monday morning charged with engaging in a relationship with an older inmate causing safety risk to a correctional centre.
The officer sat silently with a female supporter, as his lawyer Stephen Russell entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
Police detectives from the Corrective Services Investigation Unit arrested and charged the 20-year-old on October 14 following accusations he had been in a relationship with a 30-year-old inmate.
Police, at the time, said the alleged inappropriate relationship "compromised his position as a correctional officer".
The court on Monday heard the inmate was the "complainant" and the officer had been stood down in the wake of the allegations.
"These are not strictly sexual assault matters but they may be of a sexual nature and may be distressing and embarrassing to both [the inmate] and my client," Mr Russell said.
"We anticipate [the inmate] will be a witness in these proceedings. We have an interest in no harm being done to her."
The officer's lawyer successfully applied to Magistrate Lisa Stapleton to gag publication of his client's name, the alleged inmate lover's name and the Sydney facility where the alleged offence took place.
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The court accepted the identification of the pair or the prison could endanger the inmate, who is still serving a sentence in the Sydney facility.
"There is always a risk an opportunity could be taken where physical violence of some sort or retribution could be imposed on the complainant in these proceedings because she formed a relationship with what could be called 'the other side'," Magistrate Stapleton said.
The case is one of the first to be brought under new legislation, which is only 12 months old, that is designed to stop inmates and guards shacking up.
If proven, the offence carries a maximum two year imprisonment penalty and a fine of up to $2200.
The matter will return to court on January 20 next year.