A female prison officer in the UK has been embroiled in a controversial trial at St Albans Crown Court, facing allegations of misconduct related to her interactions with an inmate at The Mount prison in Hemel Hempstead.
Dawn MacCormack, aged 42 and residing in Borehamwood, stands accused of engaging in extensive communication with inmate Josh Moore, who was serving an 8-year sentence during the period in question.
Prosecutor Mark Seymour outlined that MacCormack’s actions allegedly violated her contract, which strictly prohibits social relationships with prisoners.
The court heard that Moore had access to illicit mobile phones within the prison, an issue MacCormack purportedly failed to report despite her professional obligations.
Records presented during the trial revealed a substantial volume of communication, including 85 calls and 4,100 texts over a 25-day period from one phone, and an additional 7 calls and 272 texts within 48 hours using another.
Following MacCormack’s arrest on June 22, 2019, investigators discovered deleted texts on her phone along with two compromising images of Moore—one with his torso exposed and another showing him in a t-shirt.
Despite these findings, MacCormack maintained in a statement to police that she had not breached her duties as a public officer.
The prosecution argued that MacCormack’s behavior constituted a serious breach of trust and professional conduct, emphasizing the gravity of communicating with an inmate via mobile phone. They asserted that her conduct was not an isolated incident but rather a sustained pattern of inappropriate behavior.
In a telling message to a friend in November 2019, MacCormack allegedly justified her actions, stating, “I am only human. It boils down to human feelings.
I just had human emotions and feelings.” This statement was presented to the jury, underscoring the prosecution’s assertion that MacCormack’s actions were driven by personal emotions rather than adherence to her responsibilities as a prison officer.
As the trial progresses, the jury will deliberate on charges of misconduct as a public officer and unauthorized transmission of communications to an inmate. The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting issues of integrity and professional conduct within the UK prison system.
