Corrupt prison officer jailed for 'date night' affair with inmate

A "frenzied and infatuated" prison officer has been jailed for two and a half years after conducting a substantial sexual relationship with a gangland inmate at HMP Lindholme.

Charlotte Winstanley, 27, smuggled contraband including a mobile phone and SIM cards into the South Yorkshire facility for 30-year-old Jabhari Blair.

The court heard the pair used the prohibited device to exchange "explicit photos and videos" and coordinated "date nights" on Mondays within the prison wings.

Winstanley, of Coronation Road, Doncaster, admitted misconduct in public office and transmitting a photograph from inside a prison at Sheffield Crown Court.

Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, the Recorder of Sheffield, described the case as the "worst" of its kind, noting the officer had "brazened out" suspicions to continue the affair.

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Prosecution evidence revealed prison cameras captured "intimate moments" between the pair, including the couple touching and disappearing into private rooms together.

Digital forensics uncovered messages where Winstanley told the convict, "I love my job, but I love you more," and expressed a desire to "have your babies."

The investigation found Winstanley provided Blair with sensitive intelligence, including the movements of other inmates and advance warning of scheduled cell searches.

Blair, a former organised gang member serving 12 and a half years, reportedly told Winstanley he used his prison contacts to ensure she was "protected" on the wings.

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The court heard the officer had even screenshot news articles about Blair’s serious criminal past, proving she was fully aware of his violent background.