A prison officer, Katie Evans, 26, has pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office after admitting to an intimate relationship with an inmate at Doncaster Prison.
Evans, who referred to herself as ‘your queen’, also boasted about performing a sex act on the prisoner. She now faces immediate imprisonment following a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court.
Secret Communications With Inmate
During the court proceedings, prosecutor Matthew Burdon revealed that Evans had contacted the inmate more than 140 times using a smuggled SIM card. On one particular day, she engaged in 39 conversations, with one call lasting 49 minutes.
Evans also reportedly bragged to an ex-prison officer about engaging in sexual activity with the inmate.
Court Clarification on ‘Intimate Relationship’
During the trial, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC questioned whether the term ‘intimate relationship’ explicitly referred to a sexual relationship. While Evans’ defense did not confirm it as sexual, they did acknowledge it was an inappropriate and intimate connection.
Defense Argues Immaturity and Vulnerability
Representing Evans, Edward Moss stated that the relationship took place in 2020 when she was 21 years old.
He described her as “immature and vulnerable”, emphasising that she had been a prison officer for a short time before being drawn into communication with the inmate.
He added that Evans, a mother of one, was deeply ashamed of her actions.
Judge Signals Likely Prison Sentence
Evans, who sobbed in the dock throughout the hearing, was remanded in custody until her sentencing.
Judge Richardson condemned her actions, stating that she escalated from unauthorised communication to a full-fledged intimate relationship, including “sexual conduct of a particularly disagreeable kind.”
While the judge acknowledged the need to review legal precedents, he strongly indicated that a prison sentence was inevitable, with the only question being its duration.
Evans, from Hatfield, Doncaster, is scheduled for sentencing on Tuesday.
Similar Case at HMP Wandsworth
The case follows a similar scandal involving prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu, who was jailed for 15 months earlier this year after being filmed having sex with an inmate at HMP Wandsworth in London.
The footage, featuring prisoner Linton Weirich, was widely shared on social media last year.
This case highlights growing concerns over misconduct in prisons, as authorities continue to crack down on inappropriate relationships between prison staff and inmates.
Related
