A former officer at HMP Wandsworth has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after being filmed engaging in sexual activity with an inmate.
Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, was identified by senior prison staff when a video of the incident went viral online. She was arrested at Heathrow Airport while attempting to board a flight to Madrid with her father and later pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office.
Andrew Davy, the governor of Wandsworth Prison, stated in a written submission to Isleworth Crown Court that Abreu’s actions severely undermined years of progress made by female staff working in male prisons. He also revealed that many female staff had since reported being subjected to inappropriate advances from inmates, who now viewed them as “fair game.”
The incidents occurred between June 26 and 28 and were captured on video. The court also heard that additional footage of Abreu performing a sex act on the same inmate was discovered on her body-worn camera, and she admitted to having engaged in sexual relations with the inmate on another occasion.
Judge Martin Edmunds KC noted that the viral video was not an isolated incident but part of repeated misconduct.
A Metropolitan Police investigation is ongoing into the involvement of two prisoners featured in the footage.
A spokesperson for the Prison Service emphasized that while most staff are honest and hardworking, efforts to strengthen vetting procedures and bolster the Counter Corruption Unit are successfully identifying and addressing misconduct within the system.
“As today’s sentencing demonstrates, where officers do fall below our high standards we won’t hesitate to take robust action.”
The Prison Officers’ Association, which represents prison staff, said it acknowledged there were a small number of corrupt staff working in prisons who undermined the work of others.
