Prison officer stood down after ‘disgusting’ find in colleague’s bag

An ugly brawl has erupted at a NSW jail where a prison officer has been placed on “special leave” following the discovery of the item in the bag of a colleague.

An ugly brawl has erupted at a NSW jail where a prison officer has been placed on “special leave” following the discovery of a sanitary pad in the bag of a colleague.

The Saturday Telegraph can reveal NSW Corrective Services is making inquiries into the bizarre incident at Cessnock jail last month.

It can also be revealed a woman has lodged her own bullying and harassment claim, telling the department that she is not responsible and demanding it undertake “a DNA test”.

A prison source said the incident followed a major argument between the woman and a male officer.

NSW Corrective Services is making inquiries into the bizarre incident at Cessnock jail last month. Picture: Supplied

She claimed the male officer continued to be aggressive towards her over the following days before she was called in to a meeting where she was told she was the subject of a workplace complaint and would be placed on “special leave”.

It is understood department staff showed the woman four photographs depicting a “rolled up sanitary pad”, a pad in a bag, a pad with a red stain on it and “a dangly gold earring” with a green stone.

The woman claimed she agreed with staff that the allegations were serious, but claimed she was just as shocked “and disgusted” as they were while declaring her innocence.

It is understood the department has launched an inquiry into the incident.