What New South Wales prison officials knew about a chief officer’s sexual abuse of inmates will be investigated after a minister said he was “deeply troubled”.
Key points:
- Wayne Gregory Astill was sentenced to a minimum 15 years and four months in prison
- A former senior judge will lead the investigation
- It is expected they will be appointed in the coming days
Wayne Gregory Astill was jailed for a maximum 23 years in March for abusing his position to sexually assault female prisoners at Dillwynia Correctional Centre near Windsor, over several years.
Astill was last year found guilty of 27 charges, including aggravated sexual and indecent assault, and pleaded guilty to an additional seven offences.
The Downing Centre District Court heard Astill would sometimes lure women into his office by promising them special treatment, and in return asked or pressured them into performing sexual acts.
Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong said he was “shocked and absolutely appalled” at the charges, and allegations made since Astill’s conviction.
He has now ordered an independent review, to be led by a senior former judge, into the circumstances surrounding the sexual offences.
“The response to date hasn’t been adequate and I’m deeply troubled,” Mr Chanthivong said.
“We’ve got to move quickly but we’re also working carefully in designing this review.”
The inquiry will look at whether any other Corrective Services NSW staff, or prison management, had knowledge or suspicion of the offending.
It will also investigate the level of supervision or oversight of Astill at Dillwynia Correctional Centre, and how it should be improved to prevent the risk of serious offending.
In a statement, Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) said it found the conduct Astill had been convicted of “completely and utterly deplorable”.
It said all staff members should immediately report any criminal behaviour to its professional standards and investigations branch, or NSW Police.
“We would welcome any inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his offending,” the CSNSW statement said.
The former judge is expected to be appointed in the coming days, and will be asked to make recommendations following the review.