Ex-Prison Guard Jailed for Sex with Inmate Caught on Camera
A former officer at HMP Wandsworth has been slammed with a 15-month jail sentence after being filmed having sex with an inmate — all while on duty. The shocking encounter lasted nearly five minutes and was recorded inside a prison cell by another prisoner before going viral online.
Filmed in the Act: Caught Red-Handed
Linda De Sousa Abreu, 31, pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office after the damning footage surfaced. The scandal unfolded on 25 June last year when she was caught in the act. Just days later, on 28 June, she was arrested at Heathrow Airport attempting to flee to Madrid. Earlier that day, she had called in sick, claiming she wouldn’t be returning to work.
Judge Slams ‘Misconduct that Endangers Prison Staff’
At Isleworth Crown Court, Judge Martin Edmunds KC tore into De Sousa Abreu’s actions. He said:
“You engaged in sexual activity with a prisoner. That compromised your role as an officer and was misconduct which undermines discipline within the prison, putting fellow officers at increased risk.”
The court heard she had a history of mental health issues and trauma. Worse, this wasn’t a one-off — she’d previously had sexual encounters with the same inmate and even allowed another prisoner to film the latest incident while she appeared to be smoking cannabis.
The video going viral caused chaos. Female officers at Wandsworth suffered abuse, harassment, and unwanted advances from inmates. Some reported that their children faced bullying and teasing at school over the scandal.
“Whether you intended it or not, the fact is that the video went viral and caused great harm, not only to yourself but to other officers at HMP Wandsworth,” added Judge Edmunds.
Prison Service Cracks Down on Staff Corruption
A Prison Service spokesperson said:
“While the overwhelming majority of Prison Service staff are hardworking and honest, we are taking stronger measures to identify and take action against those who break the rules.”
They revealed tougher vetting and anti-corruption steps are now in place to keep the workforce professional and disciplined.
Crown Prosecution Service’s Tetteh Turkson slammed the “shocking breach of public trust” and said:
“De Sousa Abreu was clearly an enthusiastic participant who wrongly thought she would avoid responsibility.”
De Sousa Abreu was handed 15 months behind bars – serving half in custody and the rest on licence. She also earned a 95-day cut thanks to 190 days on an electronic tag before sentencing.
This shocking case has triggered urgent talks on prison security, staff conduct, and how to safeguard discipline behind bars.
