Violent Prison Attack Leads to Overturned Sentence
A New South Wales inmate who brutally assaulted four prison officers in an unprovoked attack will remain behind bars after a successful appeal against what was deemed an unjust community-based sentence.
Cameron Reginald Welsh, 27, was originally given a three-year Community Correction Order by Cessnock Local Court magistrate Robyn Richardson in October 2025 for assaulting four correctional officers at Cessnock Correctional Centre.
However, Crown prosecutors argued this sentence was manifestly inadequate and launched a rare appeal, which was successful in the Newcastle District Court on Thursday.
Sickening Injuries Sustained by Veteran Guards
The court heard how Welsh launched his violent attack on February 25, 2025, while serving time for unrelated violent offences.
Victim David Harrower, who had worked in the corrections system for 35 years, described it as the most violent incident he had ever experienced.
Mr Harrower suffered bleeding and a hematoma on his face from being punched in the forehead multiple times during the assault.
His three colleagues, each with decades of experience, sustained even more serious injuries including:
- Two broken noses
- Multiple concussions
- Cuts and severe bruising
- Sprained ribs
- A shoulder injury
The attack was captured on CCTV, which showed Welsh becoming agitated and abusive before punching a screen and then charging at officers.
Appeal Court Delivers Justice for Victims
Judge Timothy Gartelmann found that the original magistrate had made an error in sentencing, having been inadvertently led into believing she could not hand Welsh a term of imprisonment.
Judge Gartelmann stated that the three-year community order was an affront to the administration of justice and that intervention was warranted given Welsh's history of violence and the unprovoked nature of the attack on officers performing their duties.
The judge re-sentenced Welsh to a maximum of two years and nine months in prison with a non-parole period of one year and six months. He will become eligible for release in November 2026.
The original sentence had sparked a statewide prison officer strike and was widely condemned by the corrections community.
NSW Public Service Association secretary Stewart Little welcomed the appeal decision, stating it sent a clear message to prisoners across the state that assaults on guards would be properly punished.
The victims, who continue to suffer both physically and psychologically from the attack, expressed relief at the outcome, with Mr Harrower confirming he will never work in corrections again due to the trauma he experienced.
