For more than a decade, a toxic culture inside New South Wales’ prison system allowed a convicted rapist, Scott Hawken, to operate with near impunity, leaving a trail of pain and unanswered questions about institutional accountability. According to reporting by The Sydney Morning Herald, allegations against Hawken span almost 15 years, with at least eight female colleagues accusing him of rape, sexual assault, or harassment—often at work, at their homes, or through social media. The response from the system, victims say, was not protection or justice, but a code of silence and retaliation that enabled further abuse.
The story begins in 2013, when Sarah, a New South Wales (NSW) prison guard, says Hawken arrived at her house and sexually assaulted her. She didn’t report it—not at first. "I worried my life would be made hell at work, and I needed the job," Sarah explained in an affidavit. She described Corrective Services as a "boys club," where "he was one of the boys." The unwritten rule among guards was clear: don’t turn in a colleague, or risk being ostracized as a "dog." For Sarah and others, the cost of speaking up seemed too high.
But Sarah wasn’t alone. Over the next decade, at least eight other female guards would allege that Hawken had raped, touched, or sexually harassed them. Several incidents occurred at work, while others happened when Hawken showed up uninvited at their homes. Some victims received inappropriate messages over social media. When some of these women finally did report his behavior, the backlash was swift and vicious. One woman told The Sydney Morning Herald she had hot coffee thrown at her, her car tires slashed, and prisoners were fed lies to turn them against her—such as claims she’d shredded their mail. The "boys club" culture, it seemed, was determined to protect its own.
As complaints mounted, Hawken was shuffled between prisons, a practice described by several sources as being moved "like a paedophile priest." Despite the mounting allegations, little was done to protect female staff from his behavior or from the workplace retribution that followed when they spoke out. According to one anonymous victim, "In NSW prisons, blue is more dangerous than green." (Blue is worn by guards; green by prisoners.)
In 2022, the situation escalated when Hawken raped another colleague, Clare, at her home. Clare went to the police, and last year, a jury convicted Hawken of rape. Clare’s ordeal was harrowing. During the trial, she testified: "I had 10 to 12 showers in the morning. I kept scrubbing myself, washing myself." For other victims, the knowledge that the system failed to act was a bitter pill. Helen, another of Hawken’s alleged victims, told The Sydney Morning Herald, "Women such as Clare may have been spared their ordeal if Corrective Services had acted to protect its staff from a man well known for sexually inappropriate behaviour, and if it had done more to crack down on the protection racket within its ranks."
The allegations against Hawken on record date back to 2011, when Tina, another guard, said Hawken turned up at her house one night while her children were asleep and began touching her breasts and vagina, despite her repeated protests. "I was scared, powerless and had no control over what was happening to me," Tina said in an affidavit. She didn’t report the assault immediately, fearing for her job and her safety. "If I reported it to the police … my life wouldn’t be worth living. You just don’t do that in Corrective Services." The judge’s decision on Tina’s case was pending as of mid-October 2025.
Emma, another victim, alleged that in 2012, Hawken sexually assaulted her after flagging her down on a regional road, pretending his car was in trouble. She said he lured her into his car and assaulted her. A jury found Hawken not guilty in 2014. But the pattern of behavior was clear. In 2019 alone, three Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) employees reported Hawken’s sleazy advances. Jane recalled him saying, "All you need to do is jump on his cock," and sending her messages like, "Are you cleaning your house in a French maid’s outfit?" Kate, another guard, received messages suggesting they "meet up for coffee," which she explained was code among officers for a sexual encounter.
Mel, yet another colleague, described how Hawken persistently propositioned her for sex, attempted to kiss her, and asked for topless photos. "I became concerned that Scott would not stop until I gave in to his request for sex," she stated in her affidavit. When she finally reported him, she faced isolation and bullying at work. "I have never received any support services offered by management in the workplace and I have never been advised of any outcome of the officer report I submitted," Mel wrote in 2022. "I feel my name is still attached to Scott and is the topic of gossip and stories."
Lisa, who worked with Hawken at a minimum security facility, received escalating sexual messages from him, including, "When are you going to show me around your bedroom and are you in bed naked tonight?" She initially didn’t report the harassment, recalling advice from a senior female officer: "You never put a correctional officer on paper because you will be seen to be a dog." Eventually, after further inappropriate advances during a night shift in early 2022, Lisa reported Hawken.
Hawken’s suspension from duty finally came in mid-2022, a year after charges relating to Clare were laid. In June 2023, Corrective Services sent him a formal suspension notice, instructing him not to contact complainants or retaliate. The Public Service Association, the guards’ union, had previously represented Hawken in relation to earlier accusations.
The broader context is troubling. SafeWork raised concerns about how Corrective Services NSW handled sexual harassment and abuse by staff. The agency’s shortcomings have come under further scrutiny as prisoner Keli Lane sues the NSW government for $2 million, alleging the system failed to protect her from serious harm at the hands of officers, including serial rapist Wayne Astill.
State MP Sue Higginson, justice spokeswoman for The Greens, summed up the sense of outrage: "That such criminal, depraved and harmful behaviour against female staff and inmates can take place for so long, without intervention, is unfathomable. These male perpetrators are employees of the state, for goodness’ sake." She called for urgent cultural reform, adding, "I don’t think anyone can say with any certainty that the culture within Corrective Services NSW has changed or that it is a safe place for women."
Corrective Services Minister Anoulack Chanthivong declined to comment, citing ongoing court matters. A CSNSW spokeswoman said the agency had finalized six Safe Work improvement notices in 2023, rolling out statewide sexual harassment training and improving reporting systems. "We are sending a clear message to all staff that sexual harassment, abuse and assault will not be tolerated," she stated. "We recognise the pain and suffering of victim-survivors and applaud their strength and courage in speaking up." The agency said it offers support services to affected staff and encourages anyone aware of misconduct to contact internal professional standards or the police.
As the legal process continues and the culture inside Corrective Services NSW remains under the microscope, the survivors’ stories stand as a stark reminder of the cost of silence—and of the urgent need for change.
