Prison officer Julie Turton jailed over sex and drugs

A prison officer who had sex with an inmate and supplied drugs to prisoners at HMP Birmingham has been jailed.

Julie Turton, 54, of Hamstead, Birmingham, admitted misconduct in a public office and was sentenced to 32 months at Birmingham Crown Court.

The court heard she supplied inmates with cannabis that was smuggled into the prison inside two chocolate eggs.

The judge said her sexual relationship with drug dealer Danny King had caused "serious risks to security".

The court heard Turton was in charge of staff and up to 160 inmates on M wing at the prison, known as Winson Green, between November 2011 and May 2012.

During that time she admitted calling and texting three inmates more than 900 times, including King, the court heard.

Those contacted also included Arteef Hussain, 25, now at Stoke Heath prison.

Cannabis was smuggled into the prison inside chocolate eggs, the court heard

Hussain was sentenced to a further 12 months after admitting encouraging Turton to supply cannabis while he was an inmate in Birmingham.

'Reckless'

Defence lawyer Jonathan Park told the court Turton had been depressed after discovering her husband had had an affair and "was manipulated".

Arteef Hussain pleaded guilty to encouraging Turton to supply cannabis

She had "no sinister motive for her misconduct", he said.

Judge Thomas Rochford said Turton's "special link" with King and inappropriate friendships with others "defied belief".

He said: "[You knew] that your sexual relationship was bound to cause serious risks to security and to discipline."

HMP Birmingham sacked Turton when she was charged with misconduct.

Director Pete Small said her behaviour had been "reckless".

He said: "As an established prison officer with more than 20 years of experience, Julie Turton not only let herself down, but abused the trust of her colleagues and the prison service."