Former female prison officer jailed for "inappropriate" relationship with HMP Guys Marsh inmate
A female prison officer has been sentenced to 16 months for her 4 month relationship with a repeat offender at the Dorset jail
A former Dorset prison officer has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for entering an “intimate and inappropriate” relationship with a prisoner.
Rachel Martin, from Salisbury, was found guilty of 9 counts of misconduct for her romantic relationship with Raymond Abraham, 40, between November 2020 and March 2021.
The 25 year old, who was 23 at the time, admitted to being “infatuated” with Mr Abraham and the two exchanged 279 calls - sometimes lasting several hours – and almost 2000 messages over the course of their relationship, including some “explicit” photographs.
During the four months, Martin is said to have received upwards of £12,000. The court heard that Miss Martin messaged her friend: “Ray is paying all of my bills for as long as I need.”
The defendant also supplied Mr Abraham a total of 23 Zanco phones as well as more than £2000 worth of designer clothes.
On February 8th, Mr Abraham’s cell was searched, and officers discovered the designer clothes sent in by Miss Martin.
That day, Miss Martin handed in her resignation, but she continued to stay in with Mr Abraham, a message read: "spoke to him again today", the court heard.
The judge acknowledged that Miss Martin was a victim of "grooming" and accepted that she was "deeply remorseful”. He said: "I'm satisfied that he identified you as a candidate of grooming."
The defence said: "She didn’t want to make any excuses she knew what she did was wrong"
But the defence claimed that Miss Martin was vulnerable after her previous relationship broke down and she had to leave her home, "I felt like someone finally liked me for who I was", the court heard.
The judge added: "I am satisfied from what I have read and observed that she will never trouble a courtroom again."
DI Alastair Quinn of the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), said: “Rachel Martin had a clear duty to report her association with a serving prisoner and the possession of phones – if she had done so, appropriate steps could have been taken to stop further contact and prevent it from developing into a relationship at an early stage. However, she chose not to do the right thing and instead took active steps to hide her relationship and the communication she was engaging in.”
SWROCU’s Counter Corruption Unit worked with HMPPS and the Crown Prosecution Service to build a strong a case against Martin.
Prisons Minister Damian Hinds said: “We will never tolerate those few prison officers who break the rules for their own personal gain and undermine the safety of our prisons.
“Though the vast majority of officers carry out their duties to the highest standards, we will always take the strongest possible action against the small minority who fall foul of the law - including those who engage in illicit relationships.”
Anthony Johns, CPS Wessex Senior Crown Prosecutor, said: “As a prison officer and person acting in public office, she was in an important position of trust. Martin would have known that her actions represented a clear breach of that trust, created a serious conflict of interest, and entirely compromised her position.
“People who act otherwise than in accordance with their duties in public office will be brought to justice.”