A 26-year-old prison guard, Megann Gibson, has confessed in a UK court to having phone sex with a prisoner while employed at HM Prison Wealstun in West Yorkshire.
Following her confession, she now faces jail time for public misconduct. Reports indicate that Gibson became romantically involved with the inmate during her employment at the prison. She visited his resettlement housing, granted him unauthorised access to restricted areas of the facility, and engaged in sexual activity with him during this period.
Additionally, she reportedly sent 900 messages to the man’s mother in an attempt to salvage their relationship when it began to falter.
Gibson, who has pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office, has also admitted to possessing cannabis.
Leeds Crown Court in West Yorkshire, northern England, is expected to deliver its judgment in August. The court has indicated that Gibson could face imprisonment.
Currently released on unconditional bail, Gibson has been suspended from her role at Wealstun, a Category C prison.
She was charged with "sexual communication via telephone" as part of an "inappropriate relationship" with the prisoner.
Gibson’s defence attorney stated that she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to a past relationship and was undergoing mental health assessments at the time.
Recent cases highlight a concerning pattern of female prison officers in the UK losing their jobs over improper relationships with inmates. Gibson is the latest in this troubling trend.
In May 2024, 23-year-old Isabelle Dale was charged with engaging in sexual activity with two inmates and allegedly aiding them in smuggling contraband into a high-security prison in Kent, southeast London.
Similarly, Toni Cole, a former officer at HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after admitting to an improper relationship with a 28-year-old inmate.
According to the New York Post, these incidents are part of a wider issue, with 29 female prison staff in the UK dismissed over the past three years for inappropriate conduct with prisoners.
