Prison officer sentenced over 'inappropriate relationship'

Kate Southern, 26, of Whiston, admitted misconduct in a public office at Liverpool Crown Court

A prison officer who had an "inappropriate relationship" with an inmate has been sentenced after admitting misconduct.

North West Regional Organised Crime Unit said a prisoner at HMP Altcourse spoke Kate Southern on a prison phone, using a call divert number and a fake name.

The 26-year-old, of Whiston in Liverpool, went on to bring him food and drink into the prison and accepted money from him to buy herself flowers and a hotel stay between December 2021 and January 2022.

She pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office at Liverpool Crown Court and was given a 16-month sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 125 hours of unpaid work.

Speaking after sentencing, Det Ch Insp Chris McClellan said there was "an expectation from the public that prison staff be entrusted to safeguard the security, good order and discipline of those under their supervision".

"Where an inappropriate relationship between staff and prisoners develops, this greatly undermines that trust," he said.

He said he wanted to reassure honest, hardworking prison staff that his officers would "continue to take action against people who choose to engage in corrupt activity" and urged anyone with information about corruption to report it.