Ravenhall Correctional Centre guard subject to ‘hope you get AIDS’ taunts after disgusting attack

A prison officer at Ravenhall Correctional Centre has been doused in faeces, urine and spit by a prisoner as she sat at her workstation — but her attacker received no extra jail time.

A prison officer has won a court settlement after a criminal poured a bucket of faeces, urine and spit over her.

Amy Young said her career was ruined and she still suffered mental health issues because of the inmate’s barbaric actions at the Ravenhall Correctional Centre in Melbourne’s west.

Video of the incident in July, 2020, shows what looks like a normal day in the Ascot area of the jail, which has an adjoining office area.

But as inmates talk and play cards, one emerges who Ms Young had earlier dealt with amicably.

The prisoner approaches the guard with a bucket of human waste.

The prisoner douses the guard in human waste.

The prisoner is carrying a bucket filled with waste and bodily fluids which he tips over the officer, who is facing the other way while seated in the officer post with colleagues.

“He just said; ‘This is for you’ and walked off laughing,” Ms Young told the Herald Sun.

She said she then had a shower at the jail and drove herself home after being told by management that she needed to have blood tests.

“A prisoner would have been escorted. It (the shower) didn’t get the smell out of my hair,” Ms Young said.

After finding no medical clinic able to help, she went to the Werribee Mercy Hospital emergency department where the tests were carried out.

Thirteen hours after the incident, Ms Young was back at work where the officers’ mess remained uncleaned and detainees yelled threats and taunts.

“I hope you die” and “I hope you get AIDS”, they yelled.

The prisoner flees after the attack.

Ravenhall is run by jail operator GEO group. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Ms Young tried to return to work but her mental health had been badly damaged and a heart condition had worsened as a result of the ambush and an inadequate response from her employers.

She had post-traumatic stress disorder, was plagued by a recurring ear infection and endured periods of feeling hopeless and helpless.

Adding to her pain, she was told the prisoner responsible had received a concurrent sentence, meaning he got no more time inside for his actions.

Ms Young eventually engaged plaintiff law firm Maurice Blackburn to take action against the jail’s operator, GEO Group.

Jaz Goddard, a senior associate at Maurice Blackburn, said Ms Young had tried to get back to work but could not and that it was an avoidable incident with awful consequences.

“There was nothing that prevented prisoners from getting in. Prison officers should have the right not to be attacked at work,” she said.

Ms Goddard said WorkSafe had issued provisional improvement notices against the prison, one of which was for the inmate being able to reach the officer post.

A Community and Public Sector Union spokesman said private prison operators needed to be conscious of worker safety, regardless of the cost.