A prison officer has been sentenced to 15 months for engaging in sexual acts with an inmate while on duty at HMP Wandsworth in London
London: A prison officer named Linda De Sousa Abreu has been sentenced to 15 months in jail. She was caught on video having sex with an inmate while on duty. The footage went viral on social media, leading to her arrest.
Linda, 30, was charged after the video surfaced, showing her engaging in sexual acts with a prisoner at HMP Wandsworth. She admitted to misconduct in a public office and faced sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court.
During the hearing, she appeared emotional and only confirmed her name. The court heard that she abused her position by having sex with an inmate between June 26 and 28. The video showed her in uniform, and it was filmed by the inmate’s cellmate.
The footage was shocking, with the cellmate even commenting on their actions while recording. At one point, he told someone outside the cell to wait, saying, “Give me a minute.” It was a clear breach of trust and duty.
Linda was arrested at Heathrow Airport while trying to leave for Madrid. She had informed the prison about her travel plans. She pleaded guilty and was granted conditional bail before her sentencing.
The Crown Prosecution Service described her actions as a serious breach of public trust. They emphasized that there’s no excuse for a prison officer to behave in such a manner. Linda’s defense acknowledged her responsibility for her actions.
In a statement, she claimed she felt threatened by the inmates, saying she was scared for her safety. However, the prosecution argued that her claims were false and that she had planned the encounters.
The governor of HMP Wandsworth expressed disappointment, stating that Linda’s actions undermined years of progress in how female staff are treated in male-dominated environments. It’s a serious issue that affects the integrity of prison staff.
Interestingly, just last week, another female officer was arrested for a similar incident at HMP Five Wells. It seems like this kind of misconduct is becoming a troubling trend.
