A prison officer who engaged in a romantic relationship with a convicted murderer has been sentenced to 16 months in prison. Rebecca Green, 29, worked at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire when she began the relationship with John Otugade in October 2022. Otugade is serving a 25-year sentence for murder.
Discovery and Investigation
In spring 2023, concerns about Green's behaviour led to a meeting. She initially denied the allegations, but Otugade was transferred to HMP Belmarsh while an investigation took place, according to Cambridgeshire Live. Officers searched Green's vehicle and seized her mobile phone, which contained messages indicating a romantic involvement with the inmate.
Investigators found that Otugade had added a number to his authorised contacts list under the name 'partner', which matched Green's telephone number.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Green, of Market Rasen Way, Holbeach, Lincolnshire, admitted to wilful misconduct in a public office. At Cambridge Crown Court on June 24, she was sentenced to one year and four months in prison.
Detective Constable Tom Adams, who led the investigation, said: "As a prison officer, you have a responsibility to keep prisoners and your colleagues safe. This was a serious breach of Green's responsibilities, and she failed to consider the potential impact on the security and safety of the staff and prisoners and how her actions undermined the work of the prison. This sentence shows how seriously the police and courts take such breaches."
