A female prison officer has been arrested after allegedly being caught on camera engaging in sexual activity with an inmate at HMP Five Wells, a £235 million Category C prison in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.
Footage, reportedly taken last week, shows the officer performing a sex act on the inmate before engaging in intercourse. The tattooed prisoner allegedly filmed the encounter, which has since circulated among inmates in the facility, which houses over 1,700 prisoners deemed a moderate risk.
A spokesperson for the jail confirmed the officer’s suspension and arrest, stating:
“A prison custody officer has been suspended and arrested by Northamptonshire Police on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. It would be inappropriate to comment further while the investigation is ongoing.”
The video allegedly shows the officer, identified as blonde, wearing her white shirt and security pass and removing her trousers during the incident.
HMP Five Wells has faced mounting scrutiny following repeated concerns over security and governance.
An Independent Monitoring Board report revealed widespread issues, including drugs being “routinely available” within the prison.
At least 25% of inmates randomly tested for illegal substances returned positive results.
A source described the incident as a “career-ending mistake,” adding:
“It’s shocking, especially given scandals at other prisons.
The officer has risked everything, and her actions were immediately reported to the authorities.”
Northamptonshire Police confirmed the arrest of a 19-year-old woman on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, noting, “This is a live investigation, and no further comment will be made at this time.”
This incident follows similar controversies involving prison staff in the UK. At the same facility, HMP Five Wells, another female officer, Rachel Stanton, was discovered to have had a child with inmate Edwin Poole, jailed for armed robbery. Their relationship was exposed after staff found intimate photos and CCTV footage of the pair engaging in private encounters inside the prison.
Elsewhere, Linda De Sousa Abreu, a married officer at HMP Wandsworth, made headlines after being filmed having sex with inmate Linton Weirich in June.
The video, which went viral, captured the pair’s encounter as messages crackled over her prison-issued radio.
Another officer, Leanne Butcher, narrowly avoided jail after engaging in intimate phone calls with two inmates, including Junior Lukelo-Mami, a convicted killer, and Tariq Dervan, who is serving.
