diff --git a/dspace-server-webapp/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/rest/repository/WorkflowItemRestRepository.java b/dspace-server-webapp/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/rest/repository/WorkflowItemRestRepository.java
index f6c879b3ef..3d852e9aab 100644
--- a/dspace-server-webapp/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/rest/repository/WorkflowItemRestRepository.java
+++ b/dspace-server-webapp/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/rest/repository/WorkflowItemRestRepository.java
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ import org.springframework.web.multipart.MultipartFile;
 public class WorkflowItemRestRepository extends DSpaceRestRepository<WorkflowItemRest, Integer> {
 
     public static final String OPERATION_PATH_SECTIONS = "sections";
+    public static final String REQUESTPARAMETER_EXPUNGE = "expunge";
 
     private static final Logger log = LogManager.getLogger();
 
@@ -239,13 +240,25 @@ public class WorkflowItemRestRepository extends DSpaceRestRepository<WorkflowIte
      * move the workflowitem back to the submitter workspace regardless to how the workflow is designed
      */
     protected void delete(Context context, Integer id) {
+        String expungeParam = getRequestService()
+            .getCurrentRequest()
+            .getServletRequest()
+            .getParameter(REQUESTPARAMETER_EXPUNGE);
+        boolean expunge = false;
+        if (expungeParam != null) {
+            expunge = Boolean.parseBoolean(expungeParam);
+        }
         XmlWorkflowItem witem = null;
         try {
             witem = wis.find(context, id);
             if (witem == null) {
                 throw new ResourceNotFoundException("WorkflowItem ID " + id + " not found");
             }
-            wfs.abort(context, witem, context.getCurrentUser());
+            if (expunge) {
+                wis.delete(context, witem);
+            } else {
+                wfs.abort(context, witem, context.getCurrentUser());
+            }
         } catch (AuthorizeException e) {
             throw new RESTAuthorizationException(e);
         } catch (SQLException e) {
diff --git a/dspace-server-webapp/src/test/java/org/dspace/app/rest/WorkflowItemRestRepositoryIT.java b/dspace-server-webapp/src/test/java/org/dspace/app/rest/WorkflowItemRestRepositoryIT.java
index 6275360b3c..a9bbc752f8 100644
--- a/dspace-server-webapp/src/test/java/org/dspace/app/rest/WorkflowItemRestRepositoryIT.java
+++ b/dspace-server-webapp/src/test/java/org/dspace/app/rest/WorkflowItemRestRepositoryIT.java
@@ -686,6 +686,71 @@ public class WorkflowItemRestRepositoryIT extends AbstractControllerIntegrationT
                 .andExpect(jsonPath("$.page.totalElements", is(1)));
     }
 
+    @Test
+    /**
+     * A delete request over a workflowitem with expunge param should result in delete item over detabase
+     * workspace
+     *
+     * @throws Exception
+     */
+    public void deleteOneWithExpungeTest() throws Exception {
+        context.turnOffAuthorisationSystem();
+
+        //** GIVEN **
+        //1. A community with one collection.
+        parentCommunity = CommunityBuilder.createCommunity(context)
+                                          .withName("Parent Community")
+                                          .build();
+        Collection col1 = CollectionBuilder.createCollection(context, parentCommunity).withName("Collection 1")
+                .withWorkflowGroup(1, admin).build();
+
+        //2. create a normal user to use as submitter
+        EPerson submitter = EPersonBuilder.createEPerson(context)
+                .withEmail("submitter@example.com")
+                .withPassword("dspace")
+                .build();
+
+        context.setCurrentUser(submitter);
+
+        //3. a workflow item
+        XmlWorkflowItem witem = WorkflowItemBuilder.createWorkflowItem(context, col1)
+                .withTitle("Workflow Item 1")
+                .withIssueDate("2017-10-17")
+                .build();
+
+        Item item = witem.getItem();
+
+        //Add a bitstream to the item
+        String bitstreamContent = "ThisIsSomeDummyText";
+        Bitstream bitstream = null;
+        try (InputStream is = IOUtils.toInputStream(bitstreamContent, Charset.defaultCharset())) {
+            bitstream = BitstreamBuilder
+                    .createBitstream(context, item, is)
+                    .withName("Bitstream1")
+                    .withMimeType("text/plain").build();
+        }
+
+        context.restoreAuthSystemState();
+
+        String token = getAuthToken(admin.getEmail(), password);
+
+        // Delete the workflowitem
+        getClient(token).perform(delete("/api/workflow/workflowitems/" + witem.getID() + "?expunge=true"))
+                    .andExpect(status().is(204));
+
+        // Trying to get deleted workflowitem should fail with 404
+        getClient(token).perform(get("/api/workflow/workflowitems/" + witem.getID()))
+                   .andExpect(status().is(404));
+
+        // the workflowitem's item should fail with 404
+        getClient(token).perform(get("/api/core/items/" + item.getID()))
+                   .andExpect(status().is(404));
+
+        // the workflowitem's bitstream should fail with 404
+        getClient(token).perform(get("/api/core/bitstreams/" + bitstream.getID()))
+                   .andExpect(status().is(404));
+    }
+
     @Test
     /**
      * Test the deposit of a workspaceitem POSTing to the resource workflowitems collection endpoint a workspaceitem (as