Linda De Sousa Abreu, a former prison officer at HMP Wandsworth, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after being filmed engaging in sexual activity with an inmate.
The video, which rapidly spread online, led to her identification by senior prison staff. Wandsworth’s governor expressed that Abreu’s actions had undermined years of work to support female staff in all-male prisons.
At 30 years old, Abreu was arrested at Heathrow Airport while attempting to board a flight to Madrid with her father. She had previously pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office.
Governor Andrew Davy provided a statement to Isleworth Crown Court, explaining that many female staff at the prison had reported a rise in inappropriate behavior from inmates, and female officers were now seen as “fair game.”
The video was recorded between June 26 and June 28. The Metropolitan Police are continuing to investigate the two inmates shown in the footage.
The court also revealed that a second video was found on Abreu’s body-worn camera, showing her engaging in a sex act with the same inmate. She admitted to having sex with the prisoner on this additional occasion.
Judge Martin Edmunds KC remarked that the viral video was not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of misconduct.
A spokesperson for the Prison Service emphasized that although most prison staff are hardworking and honest, the department has ramped up its Counter Corruption Unit and strengthened vetting procedures to root out rule-breakers. The spokesperson further confirmed that any officer who falls short of the Prison Service’s high standards would face stringent action.
The Prison Officers’ Association, representing prison staff, acknowledged the presence of a small number of corrupt officers who undermine the integrity of their colleagues’ work.
