Warren Phillips: Corrective Services NSW Hunter employee, accused of sex act on female colleague

The Hunter corrective services officer who allegedly committed a sex act on a female employee while at work can now be identified

A Hunter corrective services employee, who allegedly incited a female colleague to take hold of his penis while at work according to court documents, can now be identified.

Correctives services officer Warren Phillips accused of a sex act on a female employee. Picture Amy Ziniak

Cessnock jail officer Warren James Phillips, 59, was charged following an investigation into the alleged inappropriate sexual act on the morning of April 28, accused of attempting to instigate the sexual activity while the pair were at work.

The Mount Hutton man was also charged with two counts of common assault on the woman from two separate occasions earlier that month.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Last week Magistrate Andrew Millar granted an interim non-publication order for a week for Phillips’ solicitors to provide more solid evidence as to why the order should be permanent.

But they decided not to go ahead with the application and in Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday, the order was lifted.

He’ll return to court in August and remains on strict conditional bail.

In May, detectives from the robbery and serious crime squad’s corrective services investigation unit started an investigation into allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour from a correctional officer, following a referral from the prison.

Detectives arrested the 59-year-old at a home near Lake Macquarie on June 4.

The Cessnock Correctional Complex officer faced Cessnock Local Court. Picture: Emily Burley.

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Jail officer accused of getting workmate to hold his penis

On June 23, 2021

A Hunter corrective services employee allegedly incited a female colleague to take hold of his penis without consent, according to court documents.

The Cessnock jail officer, 59, was charged following an investigation into the alleged inappropriate sexual act on the morning of April 28, accused of attempting to instigate the sexual activity while the pair were at work.

He was also charged with two counts of common assault on the woman from two separate occasions earlier that month.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Smartly dressed in a grey suit, the 59-year-old appeared at Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday nervously biting his nails as his solicitor made an application for a non-publication order.

The court heard the correctives officer - who has been suspended - lived in a relatively small community and there was a threat of running into people he worked with or people that were released from the jail.

Cessnock Courthouse where the correctives officer appeared on Wednesday. Picture: Emily Burley.

Also, that publication of certain details identifying him could exacerbate current “serious” mental health conditions.

“Difficulty with not having an interim order, once the word gets out it would be futile, there would be potential danger,” the man’s solicitor told the court.

“He is under psychological care. The threat is real in this case.”

But despite the application being unopposed by the Prosecution, Magistrate Andrew Millar was wary to grant it, citing the safety issues raised were just “pure speculation”.

“This case is not particularly unusual, there’s no difference to any other police officer, corrections officer charged with this offence,” Magistrate Millar said.

But a one-week non-publication order to suppress his name and address was eventually granted, where his defence team will have to provide more solid evidence as to why the order should be permanent.

He’ll return to court next week and remains on strict conditional bail.

In May, detectives from the robbery and serious crime squads corrective services investigation unit started an investigation into allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour from a correctional officer, following a referral from the prison.

Detectives arrested the 59-year-old at a home near Lake Macquarie on June 4.