A 44-year-old prison officer, Cheryl Hindle, has been sentenced to four months in jail after being found guilty of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with Dean Holmes, a convicted burglar. The affair took place while Hindle worked at HMP Kirkham in Preston, where she was responsible for assisting inmates with employment and education opportunities, according to reports from Mail Online.
The relationship was revealed after prison staff noticed Hindle spending more time than necessary with Holmes and staying late without any apparent reason. The pair exchanged love letters and engaged in numerous phone calls, raising suspicion. Hindle also breached protocol by driving Holmes 20 miles to an exam, during which they stopped at a private residence in Accrington for 90 minutes.
Even after Holmes was transferred to Lancaster Farms Prison, the two continued communicating. Holmes added Hindle’s personal number to his approved prison contacts, and in one phone conversation, Holmes complimented the design of her mother’s house. Hindle responded that it would be “their future house.” Between May and June 2022, they made 25 calls, totaling four hours of conversation.
Hindle further violated regulations by making unauthorized visits to Lancaster Farms and illegally accessing Holmes’s prison records. A search of Hindle’s office at HMP Kirkham later uncovered love letters exchanged between them.
During a police interview, Hindle admitted to her wrongdoing, explaining that she had been “vulnerable” and not thinking clearly. Holmes was also sentenced to three months after pleading guilty to assisting in the commission of an indictable-only offence.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris McClellan emphasized the importance of tackling corruption within the prison system. He stated, “We are committed to addressing prison corruption, and those engaging in inappropriate behavior will face investigation.” He also encouraged prison staff to report any signs of misconduct.
Hindle ultimately pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office and unauthorized access to computer data.
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