Female Prison Officer Jailed for Having Love Affair with Inmate, Breaching Protocols

A 44-year-old UK prison officer, Cheryl Hindle, has been sentenced to four months in prison after being found guilty of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with Dean Holmes, a convicted burglar. Hindle, who was employed at HMP Kirkham in Preston, breached prison protocols during the affair, which included exchanging love letters and making unauthorised phone calls with Holmes.

The relationship came to light after prison staff raised suspicions about Hindle’s frequent contact with Holmes, including staying late without reason. Hindle, responsible for helping inmates with employment and education, further violated rules by driving Holmes 20 miles to an exam, stopping at a private address for 90 minutes along the way.

Despite Holmes being transferred to Lancaster Farms Prison, the pair continued their communication, with Holmes adding Hindle’s personal number to his prison contacts. Between May and June 2022, they exchanged 25 calls, totalling four hours. In one conversation, Holmes complimented Hindle’s mother’s house, to which she responded it could be “their future house.”

Further investigations revealed Hindle had made unauthorised visits to Lancaster Farms and illegally accessed Holmes’ prison files. A search of her office at HMP Kirkham uncovered love letters, solidifying evidence of the inappropriate relationship.

During a police interview, Hindle admitted to having “made mistakes,” citing personal vulnerability at the time. Holmes was also sentenced to three months for encouraging or assisting in the commission of an indictable-only offence.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris McClellan stressed the importance of cracking down on prison corruption, urging staff to report any suspicious behaviour. “We are committed to investigating the minority who engage in inappropriate conduct,” he said.

Hindle pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office and unauthorised access to computer systems.