A former prison officer who became pregnant by an inmate after starting a relationship with him during his temporary release has been handed a community order.
A Relationship Forged During Release
Sarah Barnett, 33, who worked in operational support at HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire, began seeing inmate Scott Taylor in August 2023. The court heard that Taylor contacted Barnett after being granted an overnight resettlement release on August 12. The pair then spent two nights together in Kidderminster.
When Taylor was fully released from the Category D prison on August 23, he moved into Barnett's home. However, he was recalled to jail in early September but remained unlawfully at large at her address in Staffordshire. He was finally arrested on October 3, 2023.
Pregnancy and Admission of Guilt
When police stopped Barnett as she drove away from her home during Taylor's arrest, she initially denied any relationship. She later returned to the address and disclosed she was six weeks pregnant with his child. In a subsequent prepared statement, she admitted the relationship and allowing him to stay, acknowledging it was "frowned upon".
Barnett pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office at an earlier hearing. Prosecuting, Philip Cowburn told Derby Crown Court that Barnett had supervised Taylor in prison workshops between July 24 and August 8, prior to his release.
The court was told Barnett later lost that pregnancy in November 2023, but is now pregnant again with Taylor's child, although the couple have since separated.
Sentencing and Mitigating Factors
Returning for sentencing on Thursday, Barnett was given a two-year community order and must attend 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days. Judge Shaun Smith KC said that after considering a guilty plea reduction, a prison sentence would have been only around two months, making it "pointless".
In mitigation, Mark Nicholls said Barnett had long-standing mental health difficulties and had provided a document to prison bosses stating she was not fit to work. Despite this, she requested a prisoner-facing role, which was refused. He argued she was left alone supervising 58 inmates with no "corruption awareness" training in six years, leaving her "vulnerable".
Judge Smith acknowledged Barnett's lack of support and training at work, stating the prison had failed to accommodate her documented mental health needs. He concluded she had thrown away her good character and six-year career over an 11-day period in August 2023.
