A senior prison officer who sexually assaulted two women has avoided a jail sentence but left one of his victims “living in constant fear”.
Matthew Powell, who worked at HMP Swaleside in Eastchurch, was accused of touching the women without their consent on two separate occasions.
A senior prison officer who sexually assaulted two women has avoided a jail sentence but left one of his victims “living in constant fear”.
Matthew Powell, who worked at HMP Swaleside in Eastchurch, was accused of touching the women without their consent on two separate occasions.
However, on the first day of the hearing, he changed his plea to guilty.
He was handed a four-month prison sentence which was suspended for two years when he appeared at the same court in April.
Speaking since the sentencing, one of his victims, who did not want to be named, said: “Matthew Powell embarrassed me, intimidated me and touched me inappropriately for his own sexual gain.
“I did not initiate this, nor give him any reason to believe that this was something I wanted.
“I have been diagnosed with PTSD following historical sexual abuse.
“Matthew Powell’s actions triggered the PTSD and a huge decline in my mental health.
“This left me with severe anxiety and flashbacks of not only the sexual assault from him, but the abuse that I suffered in the past.
“I had worked hard with a therapist to minimise my flashbacks and the effects the previous trauma had on me.”
She added: “This has been emotionally and mentally draining for me and has again had a huge impact on my mental health, relationships, and work life.”
Powell was placed on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.
A prison service spokesman said: “Matthew Powell has rightly faced justice for his despicable offences.
“We do not tolerate misconduct of any kind and where officers fall below our high standards, we do not hesitate to take robust action.
“An independent unit is being set up to address bullying and misconduct across the service, marking major reform to raise professional standards and protect staff.”
my view
I genuinely cannot believe what I’ve just read. Suspended for two years? For a crime as serious and devastating as sexual assault? What on earth is this justice system doing? It feels like a complete betrayal of the victims, of public trust, and of basic human decency. How can someone commit such a vile act—especially while in a position of power and responsibility—and walk away with nothing more than a suspended sentence? It's absolutely sickening. There seems to be more concern for the future of the offender than for the trauma and long-lasting impact inflicted on the victim. Where is the accountability? Where is the justice?
It makes me so angry and disheartened to see how people who are meant to protect, lead, or serve us can turn into predators—and somehow still find loopholes, sympathy, or leniency in a system that should be built to protect the vulnerable. This isn’t just a failure of one case—it’s a pattern, a disgraceful one. Every time someone in authority abuses their position and faces little to no real consequence, it sends a dangerous message: that power can shield you from responsibility, that victims will not be heard, and that justice is conditional. This is not the kind of society we should accept.
Honestly, I wish I were Prime Minister—because if I had the power, I would overhaul this broken system in a heartbeat. I would ensure that predators, especially those hiding behind uniforms, titles, or trusted roles, face the full weight of the law. No suspended sentences. No leniency. Just real justice for victims who carry scars for life. This country deserves better. Women deserve to feel safe. And people who use their authority to harm others deserve to lose everything—not walk away with a slap on the wrist and a second chance they never gave their victims.
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