A former prison officer who became pregnant by an inmate after starting a relationship with him during his temporary release has been sentenced to a community order, avoiding an immediate jail term.
A Relationship Forged During Release
Sarah Barnett, aged 33 and formerly an operational support staff member at HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire, began a relationship with inmate Scott Taylor in August 2023. The court heard that Taylor, who was serving time at the Category D prison, was granted overnight resettlement release on 12 August 2023.
It was during this period that the pair first met in person in Kidderminster, having exchanged phone numbers. They spent the nights of 12 and 13 August together. Taylor was fully released from custody on 23 August, after which he moved into Barnett's home.
Unlawful Conduct and Discovery
The situation escalated when Taylor was recalled to prison in early September 2023 but failed to return. He remained unlawfully at large, continuing to stay at Barnett's address. The illicit arrangement came to an end on 3 October 2023, when police arrested Taylor at her home.
When officers stopped Barnett as she drove away from the scene, she initially denied any relationship with Taylor or knowledge of his whereabouts. However, upon returning to her address, she disclosed to police that she was six weeks pregnant with his child. She was subsequently arrested and later admitted they were in a relationship.
Sentencing and Mitigating Circumstances
Appearing at Derby Crown Court on Thursday, Barnett, who had previously pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office, was handed a two-year community order. She was also ordered to attend 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
Passing sentence, Judge Shaun Smith KC noted that while the offence was serious enough to initially consider custody, the likely short sentence—reduced for her guilty plea—made a community order more appropriate. He stated Barnett had 'complex needs and issues that need addressing'.
In mitigation, her defence counsel, Mark Nicholls, outlined a history of mental health difficulties dating back to childhood. He argued that Barnett had been left in a vulnerable position at work, supervising 58 inmates alone in a workshop after a colleague went on sick leave, with no 'corruption awareness' training in her six years of service.
The court was told Barnett had provided a document to prison service managers indicating she was not fit to work, but had requested to continue in a prisoner-facing role as she found it helped her mental health. This request was refused.
Prosecutor Philip Cowburn revealed that, following the initial pregnancy which was lost in November 2023, Barnett is now pregnant again with Taylor's child, though the couple have since separated.
Judge Smith concluded that over an 11-day period in August 2023, Barnett had 'thrown away' her good character and career, but acknowledged the lack of support and the challenging circumstances she faced in her role at the prison.
