British prison guard caught having sex with inmate, accused of misconduct

Updated July 1, 2024 at 5:43 p.m. IST

A 30-year-old prison guard has been charged with misconduct in public office for allegedly having sex with an inmate.

She was accused of misconduct in public office. | Representative image

London: A woman prison officer allegedly had sex with a prisoner at HMP Wandsworth South West London Prison. Video of the incident went viral on social media, having been filmed inside the prison and subsequently surfaced online. As a result, Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, from Fulham, West London, was charged with misconduct holds a public office and is now due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

After the video surfaced online on Friday, the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation. We see the officer in uniform before committing the alleged act.

The Victorian prison HMP Wandsworthw was built in 1851 and is currently struggling with severe overcrowding and deteriorating prison conditions. Recent inspections have revealed several serious problems, including widespread violence, vermin infestations and massive staff shortages. It was originally designed to house only a few inmates, but is now operating at 163% capacity, with more than 1,500 prisoners crammed into its facilities.

In May, Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor issued an “urgent notice” to Justice Minister Alex Chalk calling for immediate reforms. Taylor’s report described the prison’s wings as “chaotic” and highlighted staff’s difficulties in effectively managing and reporting on prisoners. Following the report, the prison’s governor, Katie Price, resigned from her post.

Scotland Yard has opened an investigation. A spokesperson confirmed that “staff corruption is not tolerated and that the former prison guard who appears in this video has been reported to the police”, according to a prison administration representative. Further comments have been withheld due to the ongoing investigation.