Former Metropolitan Remand Centre officer Greg Brassington to sue state
A former prison guard is suing the state over claims he witnessed extreme violence in his job, including the disembowelment of a prisoner.
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An ex-prison guard is suing the state over claims he witnessed extreme violence in his job, including the disembowelling of a prisoner.
Former Metropolitan Remand Centre officer Greg Brassington is seeking a County Court trial over claims his employer did not protect him from harm in the line of duty.
A writ states the 60-year-old was assaulted by prisoners on several occasions over the course of his prison career spanning February 2014 and July 2018.
He suffered injuries to his face, teeth and right elbow and claims prisoners also threatened harm against his family members.
The ex-guard also claims to have witnessed stabbings, hangings, disembowelling and an inmate severing his own ears.
The writ states he also had blood and excrement thrown at him and was spat and urinated on.
Mr Brassington’s lawyer submitted the maximum-security remand prison was a “highly stressful” workplace and the ex-guard now suffers post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive order, which renders him incapable of working.
“The Plaintiff has been totally incapacitated since July 2018 (and) has suffered a loss of earnings and will suffer a loss of earning capacity,” the writ states.
Mr Brassington is suing the state for damages, namely for negligence in failing to provide a safe workplace and a lack of training to deal with violent and aggressive inmates.
The writ states the Metropolitan Remand Centre did not allow Mr Brassington to transfer to a less stressful work environment or provide him with adequate support.
It’s not the first time the former guard has launched legal action against the state.
In 2021 he won the right to pursue compensation over claims he was badly injured on the job.
Court records state he sought damages for pain, suffering and lost earnings over an injury he sustained during a night duty shift in July 2018.
A court heard he walked into a metal chair bolted to the floor of a dark room, causing him to injure his right knee and ankle.
At the time he was receiving WorkCover payments for a psychiatric condition related to his employment.
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