A prison officer has denied having an 'inappropriate relationship' with an inmate at one of Britain's toughest jails, but will not face trial for three years.
Michelle Molver, 30, is accused of committing misconduct in public office while working as a prison employment lead at HMP Belmarsh in Thamesmead, southeast London. It is alleged that she struck up an 'inappropriate relationship' with Kemai Mathurine at the Category A lockup, which holds some of the nation's most notorious prisoners.
Appearing at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, Molver, dressed in dark trousers and a jacket, pleaded not guilty to the charge against her, which is said to have occurred between August 1 and September 5 last year. Her Honour Judge Baker set a date for a three-day trial in September 2029, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for the month prior. Molver, of Chadwell Heath, East London, was granted unconditional bail at a previous hearing at Bromley Magistrates' Court.
According to previous reports, Molver had also been involved with The Churchill Fellowship, focusing on rehabilitation projects linked to prisoners and reducing reoffending. An online profile stated: 'My role is to support prisoners into employment on release and ultimately to reduce their likelihood of reoffending. The criminal justice system in the UK is at breaking point, with prison populations at an all-time high, and this has a ripple effect impacting services well beyond the justice sector.'
Molver is the former company director of the now-dissolved Road to Rehabilitation Ltd and a current director of Grass Root Homes Ltd. Unlike a traditional property developer or housebuilder, Rehabilitation Ltd operates in the social care and healthcare sector, according to the UK's business registry. They focus on providing supported living environments or care facilities for individuals requiring specialised assistance, such as those recovering from substance abuse or managing mental health conditions.
HMP Belmarsh is a Category A men’s prison in south east London which houses high-profile offenders, including inmates considered national security risks.
