A prison officer has been jailed for 12 months after having a sexual relationship with an inmate at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham. Emily Watson, 26, pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office for engaging in an intimate relationship with John McGee, who was serving an eight-year sentence for killing a charity worker in a hit-and-run crash.
The court heard that Watson had sex with McGee at least once in his cell. Suspicion arose due to the amount of time she spent talking to him on the wing. An investigation revealed that McGee contacted Watson via Instagram using an iPhone 6 hidden inside a PlayStation, which he had opened with a screwdriver disguised as a pen. They also had virtual sex via FaceTime, and Watson sent him naked photos and a video containing sexual content.
Watson, from Huddersfield, was described in court as a naive 'thrill seeker'. The judge stated, 'If prison officers are corrupt then the system falls apart.' She was sacked from her role following the discovery.
Data released to the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act shows that 567 prison staff were sacked for misconduct between 2013 and 2018, including 39 for inappropriate relationships with prisoners. Of those, at least 16 were women and at least 14 were men. Other misconduct charges included breach of security and assaulting prisoners.
Detective Inspector Dawn Hampson, of the north-west regional organised crime unit, said: 'Working alongside Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), we are absolutely committed to identifying and bringing to justice those who we suspect are involved in corruption within the prison service... We know the vast majority of prison officers are dedicated professionals who carry out their duties with integrity. But today’s sentence is another positive step in tackling prison corruption in the north-west.'
