A former prison officer who had a baby with an inmate has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for misconduct in public office. Kelly-Anne McDade, 31, admitted to a sexual relationship with Nelson Delgado, a 21-year-old 'dangerous offender', at Aylesbury young offenders institution in Buckinghamshire.
McDade gave birth to a baby boy in February. She later attempted to smuggle three mobile phones into Swinfen Hall young offenders institution in Staffordshire, where Delgado was transferred after the affair was discovered. The phones were concealed in a stereo.
Judge Christopher Tyrer described her behaviour as 'disgraceful' during sentencing at Aylesbury crown court. The court heard that McDade had worked at the institution for three years before starting the relationship last year. She resigned after being caught on CCTV opening Delgado's cell door after lockdown on 10 August 2008.
Prosecutor Nigel Ogborne stated that McDade's pregnancy became obvious to staff, and she initially claimed it resulted from a holiday romance. When the prison governor learned Delgado was the father, he said the relationship 'could have caused a massive breach of security'.
Defence lawyer Richard Germain argued that McDade 'fell in love' with Delgado, who is nearly 10 years her junior. He said the couple hopes to set up home together and raise their child. McDade received 18 months for smuggling phones and 12 months for misconduct, to be served consecutively, with a concurrent one-month sentence for a drugs offence.
