A prison support worker has been sent to prison herself after engaging in a six-month affair with a convicted drug dealer inmate, in a serious breach of trust.
Corrupt Conduct at Open Prison
Heidi Bessant, 38, from Chepstow, was working as an operational support grade at HMP Leyhill, a Category D open prison in South Gloucestershire, when she began the inappropriate relationship in November 2023. The affair continued for half a year, only ending in June 2024 when an investigation was launched.
The court at Bristol Crown Court heard that Bessant's relationship was with a prisoner serving time for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and blackmail. The pair exploited the inmate's day release privileges to spend time together at restaurants and hotels.
Exploiting Privileges and Position
Evidence presented to the court revealed the extent of the misconduct. Bessant would frequently pick the inmate up from the prison and return him later the same day during his authorised temporary release.
Furthermore, the pair communicated via phone calls and text messages, with the prisoner using a contraband mobile phone he was not permitted to possess. In a further blurring of professional boundaries, Bessant handled his personal banking, using his bank card details to facilitate money being paid into his prison account.
Swift Investigation and Sentencing
The illicit relationship was uncovered by detectives from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), who acted on suspicions regarding Bessant's conduct. She subsequently pleaded guilty to a single charge of misconduct in a public office.
At her sentencing hearing, Bessant was given a six-month custodial sentence. PC Mark Paterson, a corruption investigator with SWROCU, condemned her actions.
"Bessant’s role meant she had a duty to conduct herself in a responsible, respectable and trustworthy manner," he stated. "Instead, her conduct amounted to a serious breach of trust. SWROCU will continue to work determinedly... in bringing to justice employees who engage in any form of criminal conduct; it simply will not be tolerated."
The case highlights the ongoing efforts of prison authorities and police units to tackle corruption and maintain integrity within the prison service.
