A prison tutor has been sentenced to 12 months in jail after pleading guilty to engaging in an intimate relationship with an inmate at HMP Erlestoke in Wiltshire. Kelly Duffey, 36, of Amesbury, admitted two charges of misconduct in a public office at Winchester Crown Court, relating to her affair with prisoner Ashley Goodridge.
Details of the Relationship
The court heard that Duffey, who began working at the prison's education department in May 2024, developed an intimate relationship with Goodridge between July and September 2024. The relationship involved kissing and one physical sexual encounter. Messages exchanged between the pair included declarations of love such as 'I love you,' and photographs were also shared.
Duffey was also aware that another staff member, a librarian, had a similar intimate relationship with a different prisoner. In a message to a friend on August 20, she wrote: 'Definitely done something this morning I shouldn't have.' She also discussed the librarian's affair, noting that they had nearly been caught before, and described their conversation as 'giggling like school girls lol.'
Sentencing and Judge's Remarks
Judge Christopher Parker KC described Duffey as being 'overwhelmed by a foolish infatuation' and noted that she was aware of the risks and dangers of her actions. He stated: 'In your correspondence with your friend outside prison it is plain you knew the risks, you knew of the dangers, you knew what you were doing was wrong.'
The judge highlighted that Duffey exposed herself to potential blackmail and coercion, but acknowledged that she did not breach security or smuggle items into the prison. He added that her attachment to Goodridge appeared 'rather one-sided' but was heartfelt from her perspective. Duffey expressed regret for her actions.
Inmate's Sentence
Ashley Goodridge, 38, who is serving an IPP sentence for cannabis production, also received a 12-month concurrent sentence after pleading guilty to possessing a phone and using it to send a photo from the category C men's prison. His barrister noted that Goodridge had used his time in custody productively, training as a roofer and qualifying in traffic management, and had served much longer than anticipated for a relatively minor offence.
Reaction from Authorities
Detective Constable Mark Paterson of the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) stated: 'The conduct displayed by Kelly Duffey will not be tolerated within a prison estate. She may not have been a prison officer or directly employed by HMPPS, but she was in a position of trust as an education tutor, a key role in prisoner rehabilitation. She misconducted herself and neglected her duty over an extended period of time, which compromised the safety of other staff and inmates.'
The SWROCU Counter Corruption Unit continues to work alongside HMPPS and the CPS to bring to justice anyone working within the prison estate who commits criminal acts.
