A prison officer, Niamh Lloyd, has been jailed after engaging in an illicit relationship with career criminal Lee Makin while he was serving time at Forest Bank prison in Salford.
Lloyd, 22, and Makin, 40, maintained contact even after Makin was transferred to HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, exchanging phone calls, letters, and sexual conversations. Lloyd also shared confidential prison information and identified another inmate as a sex offender.
Court Proceedings & Sentencing
Lloyd pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in public office, while Makin admitted to encouraging misconduct. Both were sentenced to one year in prison at Manchester Crown Court on March 26.
Judge Alan Conrad KC criticized Lloyd’s actions, stating:
“What you did undermines the balance and good order of prison life. Instead of seeking comfort in a prisoner, you should have left the job.”
Investigation & Evidence
Authorities discovered:
40 hours of recorded calls between Lloyd and Makin
Confidential prison details shared by Lloyd
Burnt documents in Lloyd’s apartment, allegedly to destroy evidence
Photos of Lloyd in Makin’s cell
Online searches related to inmate relationships
Lloyd was arrested at her parents’ home in Wigan in November 2022 and later attempted to maintain contact with Makin through a friend despite bail restrictions.
Background & Mitigation
Lloyd previously worked as a civilian assistant for Greater Manchester Police and ran a beauty business. She claimed she turned to Makin for emotional support after being sexually assaulted at work.
Makin, described as a career criminal, has 69 prior offenses, including burglary.
Despite Lloyd’s lack of prior convictions, the judge ruled an immediate prison sentence was necessary due to the seriousness of the misconduct.
