Former Chelmsford prison tutor jailed for eight months over relationship with inmate
Melissa Murphy admitted misconduct in a public office after writing love letters to a prisoner.
Last updated 16th Jan 2026
A former prison tutor from Essex has been jailed for eight months after admitting to an inappropriate relationship with an inmate at HMP Chelmsford.
Melissa Murphy, aged 49, pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office at Chelmsford Crown Court. Her sentencing followed her admission of writing romantic and sexual love letters to a prisoner and being found alone with him in a locked room at the facility.
Judge Jamie Sawyer explained that Murphy requested the inmate be brought to a workshop on 8th December 2023, despite there being no scheduled class. Staff later found her alone in the locked room “appearing flustered” when the door was opened, he said.
Murphy began working at HMP Chelmsford in 2020, providing vocational training to inmates to help them secure employment after their release. She was first arrested three days after the December workshop incident, and her teaching role was terminated.
The court also heard that explicit handwritten letters were discovered in the inmate’s cell and that a photograph of the prisoner was later found at Murphy’s home.
While a sim card and correspondence indicating encouragement from the inmate to maintain private contact were also recovered, the judge remarked that there was no evidence these requests had been acted upon. Both Murphy and the prosecution denied any physical relationship.
Sentencing Murphy, Judge Sawyer stated: “Ms Murphy, your offending is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified. You held a position of trust within a prison and abused that trust by engaging in a romantic relationship with a prisoner, exposing yourself to corruption and undermining confidence in the prison system.”
He also clarified that Murphy would serve up to 40% of the eight-month sentence in custody.
Judge Sawyer said her actions were “an isolated lapse” but added, “Confidence in the prison system is essential, and your actions have further eroded that confidence, particularly at HMP Chelmsford."