Remand prisoners front court for assaulting prison officers

One Corrections officer suffered a broken nose and another was punched in the head in two attacks by inmates on guards at Port Phillip Prison.

Two prison officers were assaulted by remand prisoners at Port Phillip Prison within a month of each other.

Two prison officers at Port Phillip Prison were punched by people on remand in separate incidents within a space of one month.

One attacker — who was on remand for serious charges— pleaded guilty to a charge of assault on a custodial officer on duty.

He was sentenced by the County Court on Wednesday to 341 days in prison.

He punched a custodial officer in the nose after uttering the words “Are you calling me a f------ liar?” forcing the latter to be off work for four months before being diagnosed with post stress traumatic disorder.

Judge Frank Gucciardo said the protection and wellbeing central to correctional services extended to custodial officers who performed difficult and challenging work.

On July 14, last year a custodial officer unlocked the cell door of the man and asked whether or not he would work that day. The man replied he wouldn’t and his cell door was then locked.

A custodial officer at Port Phillip Prison suffered a broken nose after he was punched by a remand prisoner.

Later that day, he told the officer that he was not feeling unwell when his cell door was unlocked that morning.

The officer said that was not what the man had said. The man then began walking towards him, raising his voice and saying “Are you calling me a f------ liar?”.

The officer replied “Yes, I am calling you a liar.” The man then punched him in the nose which started bleeding immediately. Three other prison officers restrained the man.

A CAT scan at Sunshine Hospital confirmed he suffered a broken nose

“An assault on an officer in question and in such circumstances as described is completely unacceptable. Unprovoked, gratuitous violence must be deterred and justly punished,” Judge Gucciardo said.

The custody officer has had difficulty breathing through his nose and took four months off work and returned in October on a reduced capacity.

He was diagnosed with post stress traumatic disorder in February 2023. His recovery was marked by hypervigilance and headaches. Judge Gucciardo said the officer has had flashbacks which has made him hesitant at work and he’s lost significant opportunities for overtime work which consequently has had an effect on his financial security.

In another case, a prisoner was placed on a good behaviour bond for a year after being convicted in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday of a similar offence.

Magistrate Belinda Franjic said general deterrence in the case was negligible, given the man’s psychiatric issues.

The 48-year-old punched a corrections officer in the head on June 19, 2022 while the latter was handing out items from the prison canteen.

He suffered two lacerations on his forehead.