Michael Quinn, then 46, was serving a six-month sentence at Silverwater prison for breaches of an AVO, when he was allegedly punched and kicked by corrections workers after making a complaint about one of them in April 2015.

Four prison workers - Paul David, Sam Faitua, Paul Hammond and Daniel Curry - have pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company and affray.

Supporters of the accused, many correctional workers, packed into Burwood Local Court on Monday, with magistrate Alexander Mijovich​ warning them to stop laughing at evidence and "looking aggressively" at the witness. 

Mr Quinn told the court that prior to the alleged assault he had stopped in a corridor after receiving treatment for asthma at the prison's clinic and was told to "move on" by an officer.

"I said, 'Sorry chief, I didn't know I was in anyone's way,' " Mr Quinn said.

The court heard the officer, who was identified in the prosecution's summary of the case as Mr Hammond, ripped headphones out of Mr Quinn's ears and said, "Don't worry, I'll see you later."

"I did ask him 'What for?' and he said, 'Coz 'you're a f---ing smart arse' was his exact words," Mr Quinn said.

Mr Quinn said he reported the incident to Mr David, who was then an assistant superintendent and manager at Silverwater. About 20 minutes later, Mr Quinn was asked to return to Mr David's office.

"When I walked in the office, it didn't feel right, to be honest, but I still went in there because you can't do much else but listen to what you've been told to do by the correction officers," he said.

"Paul [David] then said to me 'Are these the gentlemen you want to complain about?' "

The prosecution's case is that Mr Quinn was assaulted by at least two prison guards, Mr Hammond and Mr Faitua, with Mr David and Mr Curry in the office at the time.

Mr Quinn said he was punched in the face, pushed and kicked, with one of the guards telling him, "Hold your head up you f---ing dog."

Later, when Mr Quinn went to the prison clinic to receive treatment for his injuries, he said he was again called into Mr David's office.

"He told me to pretty much be careful if I do take it further because they will get me again," Mr Quinn said.

The next day Mr Quinn was taken to Picton for a court appearance and told a corrections officer working there what he alleged had happened.

The officer took photos of bruises and swelling on his face, organised for him to visit a hospital, and he was transferred to a different prison, the court heard.

A defence lawyer for two of the accused officers, Stephen Wilkinson, asked Mr Quinn in cross examination if he had embellished his story and put it to him there was no assault in the office.

Mr Quinn conceded that some of his original claims, including that he was grabbed and shoved by Mr Hammond before the alleged assault, were not reflected in the prison security footage.

The hearing is expected to last about 10 days.

The accused correction workers are due to give evidence.