A married prison officer has been jailed for 15 months after admitting to having sex with an inmate inside his cell at HMP Wandsworth in South London.
The scandal, which was filmed and shared among prisoners, led to severe repercussions for female officers across the UK prison system, a court heard.
Linda De Sousa Abreu, 31, pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office at Isleworth Crown Court. During her sentencing, disturbing details emerged about her illicit relationship with Linton Weirich, a convicted burglar.
Footage of their encounter, filmed by another inmate on June 25 last year, went viral and caused significant harm to the prison environment.
Sentencing Abreu, Judge Martin Edmunds noted her “enthusiastic” participation in the encounter.
He remarked that the second prisoner provided a running commentary in the video, boasting:
“Guys, we made history,”
“This is how we live at Wandsworth, bruv,”
and, “You know you are a gangsta.”
The judge expressed concern over the recording’s widespread distribution, stating that while Abreu may not have intended the harm, she bore full responsibility for the consequences. He added:
“The viral video caused great harm. Prison officers, particularly women, have faced harassment and sexualised taunts as a direct result of your actions.”
Dr Iain Kooyman, a forensic psychiatrist, provided a detailed assessment of Abreu, diagnosing her with borderline personality disorder and ADHD, which contributed to her impulsive and reckless behaviour.
According to Dr. Kooyman, Abreu felt a dangerous sense of power and control over inmates, which fueled her high-risk actions.
“You thrived on fear and anxiety within a dangerous environment. The sense of control and attention made you feel almost intoxicated by the risk.”
Abreu admitted she developed romantic feelings for Weirich and wanted to continue the relationship after his release. She claimed he made her feel safe and “like a gangster,” highlighting her delusional attachment to him despite her position of authority.
After the footage circulated, Abreu tried to escape the fallout by flying to Madrid and Madeira, where she planned to wait for the scandal to “calm down.” However, she was arrested at Heathrow Airport after informing the prison of her travel plans.
Victim impact statements read in court described how Abreu’s actions had tarnished the reputation of female prison officers.
The governor of HMP Wandsworth said her behaviour led to harassment and sexual approaches toward female staff, with some officers’ children teased at school.
“The damage you caused is far-reaching. Female officers across the prison estate have faced humiliation and harm because of your actions.”
A Prison Service spokesperson condemned the misconduct:
“While most of our staff are hardworking and honest, we are strengthening vetting and cracking down on corruption. This case demonstrates our commitment to robust action when officers fail to meet our high standards.”
The case underscores the need for stricter oversight in prisons and highlights personal misconduct’s devastating impact on professional integrity and institutional trust.
