Female prison guard who had relationship with inmate is spared jail

A female prison guard who developed a relationship with an inmate exchanging love notes and messages and spending time together in his cell has been spared jail.

Law graduate Jessica McCleary, 29, has became the latest woman sentenced for having a romantic liaison at a jail becoming notorious for the number of flings between staff and convicts.

A judge allowed her to walk free from court with a suspended sentence after accepting she had fallen victim to 'manipulative' drugs offender Levi Weekes and that their relationship had not escalated to sex while behind bars.

But the court heard the pair had slept together after his release. It ended after McCleary, of Froncysyllte, Llangollen, North Wales, became pregnant but then miscarried.

McCleary admitted misconduct in public office between October 25 and November 4 last year by entering into an 'inappropriate' relationship at HMP Berwyn, near Wrexham.

Prosecutor Catherine Elvin told Mold Crown Court McCleary had been a prison officer at the prison for six years.

But in September 2023, she was informed she was going to be sacked for 'poor performance.'

There were also suspicions about a relationship with Weekes and she was stopped bringing a USB stick into prison.

Miss Elvin said the guard accepted she had begun to see Weekes more regularly in his cell and they had feelings for each other.

The prosecutor said: 'She admitted while serving her notice period relating to dismissal that relationship had progressed and since October 26 they had shared notes and love messages.' 

The notes were found in Weekes' cell, McCleary's car and a hotel room where she was living at the time.

The prison officer was found to have been in regular contact with Weekes on the prison messaging service.

After her arrest, while not in work, there was further messaging.

Miss Elvin added: 'She stated she intended to maintain the relationship with Levi Weekes despite her dismissal and his subsequent transfer.' 

Defence barrister John Wyn Williams said: 'This case was an exchange of fairly immature text messages expressing undying love for each other.' 

He said McCleary – who the court heard endured a 'difficult childhood' - was remorseful, adding: 'She had been dismissed and the irony is Levi Weekes terminated their relationship following her disclosure that she had miscarried their child.' 

Judge Rhys Rowlands said McCleary had visited Weekes' cell daily during five weeks and told her she was 'putting your own interests first'.

He added she had 'let down your colleagues and forgot your responsibilities to your child'.

Judge Rowlands said: 'You fell far short of what was expected of you by entering into an inappropriate relationship with a prisoner.

'It was very wrong indeed because your behaviour served to undermine and risk safety and discipline in the prison.' 

But he accepted said she had been diagnosed previously with PTSD and depression and that there was 'a degree of naivety' – in contrast to Weekes, who he said was 'manipulative'.

McCleary brought a suitcase and another bag to court – expecting a potential jail term - but instead received an eight-month jail term, suspended for two years.

She must do a 20 days rehabilitation activity and a twelve-month mental health requirement.

Judge Rowlands said the 'crucial feature' in sentencing her was that McCleary was the sole carer for her five-year-old child.

He added: 'As a prison officer you will have seen young children being taken into the prison establishment and how dreadfully depressing that is for all concerned.' 

Judge Rowlands said if she had carried anything into jail for Weekes or entered into a physical sexual relationship behind bars, she wouldn't have been spared custody.

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Female prison officer, 28, had 'illicit relationship with inmate' at HMP Berwyn, court hears

HMP Berwyn holds 2,000 men including inmates from North Wales, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham – and there have been a string of guard-inmate flings.

Anti-corruption training had been given to more than 500 workers in a bid to stop affairs.

Previously 18 women staff had been sacked or resigned for getting too close to inmates – adding to a staff shortage.

They include Jennifer Gavan, 27, jailed for eight months in 2022 after entering into an inappropriate relationship with prisoner Alex Coxon, accepting £150 to bring a mobile phone into the jail and communicating with him via a phone held illegally in the prison.

Meanwhile, criminology and psychology graduate Ayshea Gunn, 27, was jailed for 12 months in 2019.

She made numerous phone calls, some sexually explicit, to inmate Khuram Razaq, 29, who was also using a smuggled-in phone – and smuggled in a pair of knickers for him inside her bra.

The same year prison officer Emily Watson, 26, was jailed after performing a sex act on an inmate in his cell on Christmas Day.