(Image: ANDY FUTERS)
A prison officer going through a break-up sent a love letter to an inmate, telling him he was, “the butter on my toast” and “the milk in my tea”.
Lindsay Wilson ended her letter to the HMP Deerbolt prisoner with: “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
It was found during a police dog-handler search of a BMW parked outside the prison near Barnard Castle, on October 26, 2024.
Durham Crown Court heard that the BMW belonged to Wilson’s son, but she used it to travel to work.
Prosecutor Neil Jones said the search focused on whether phones or drugs had been passed to inmates, but found no evidence of this. He said officers initially questioned Wilson about whether she had passed contraband to inmates.
But they also found the affectionate letter, suggesting the relationship was ongoing.
It also carried the prisoner’s fingerprints.
He said an iPhone was also found in a handbag behind the passenger seat. Wilson said the phone was old, but refused to say who she had spoken to on it, but the court heard Wilson appeared to suggest she was, “talking to a married guy”.
HMP Deerbolt. (Image: ANDY FUTERS)
Mr Jones said the relationship with the serving inmate appeared to be consensual, although it was illicit.
Wilson had been in the Prison Service for six months and was completing her training while working long shifts, including overnight responsibility for up to 60 inmates, with backup cover if needed.
Mr Jones said Wilson’s actions represented a breach of trust and damaged confidence in prison staff more widely.
The relationship appeared to have continued from early August until the search in late October 2024.
Wilson, 46, from Colburn, Catterick Garrison, admitted a charge of misconduct in public office.
Mairi Clancy, representing Wilson, said the mother-of-four was emotionally vulnerable at the time as she was going through a marriage break-up after her husband relocated to Scotland.
She was also suffering from health problems at the time.
Miss Clancy said Wilson was under “significant emotional strain” and was “lonely, isolated and depressed”.
She said: “It’s not an excuse, but it left her more vulnerable.
“If someone pays you attention and pays you a compliment it makes you far more susceptible.
“It doesn’t make it okay.”
Miss Clancy said Wilson had moved past that period, “picked herself up” and found a new job since leaving the Prison Service.
Judge Aisha Wadoodi told Wilson she had, “an improper relationship with a serving prisoner”, while nearing the end of training that included anti-corruption lessons.
She said it was accepted that Wilson had not passed drugs, phones or other contraband to the inmate.
The judge said a law change earlier this year created a presumption that prison sentences of 12 months or less should be suspended unless exceptional circumstances apply.
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Judge Wadoodi accepted Wilson was of previous good character, but said her job meant that was expected.
She said the prosecution accepted that no exceptional circumstances applied, so she imposed an 11-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.
Wilson must also observe a six-month home curfew, from 8pm to 6am, with probation supervision during that time.