Shock sex scandals rock UK jail as female guards caught in illicit relationships with inmates
Scandalous romances at HMP Berwyn have been exposed in a damning report obtained via Freedom of Information requests. Over the last six years, several female prison officers engaged in forbidden liaisons with inmates — some even ending behind bars themselves.
Forbidden love behind bars
Between October 2017 and January 2018, officer Emily Watson sparked headlines after falling in 1 with liverpool/" title="Liverpool" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Liverpool inmate John McGee. The pair kept their steamy affair secret, trading messages on Instagram and meeting several times in his cell.
When the prison authorities found out, Watson was sentenced to a year for misconduct in public office — admitting she had an intimate sexual relationship with a prisoner.
More female officers nailed for romance with inmates
Emily wasn’t the only guard crossing the line. Jennifer Gavan and Ayshea Gunn both served jail time for illicit affairs with inmates.
- Gavan smuggled a phone into robber Alex Coxon’s cell and exchanged raunchy pictures via WhatsApp.
- Gunn sent explicit photos and videos to armed robber Khuram Razaq.
The courts handed Gavan eight months and Gunn a year behind bars. The scandal doesn’t stop there — one officer even fathered a prisoner’s child, highlighting the shocking depths of these forbidden relationships.
Calls for stricter hiring and vetting
Mark Fairhurst, chair of the Prison Officers’ Association, blasted current recruitment methods. “They’re hiring the wrong kind of women,” he said, slamming virtual interviews on Zoom that fail to vet candidates properly. He warned that inexperienced staff are vulnerable to manipulation by inmates.
Ministry of Justice stats reveal that since 2019, 31 female officers in England and Wales have been sacked for inappropriate relationships with prisoners.
‘Comfortable’ jail criticised amid scandal
HMP Berwyn, dubbed the UK’s “comfortable” jail, boasts hotel-style cells with no window bars, ensuite bathrooms, TVs, laptops, and phones — a set-up some say makes it easier for prisoners and staff to form improper bonds.
Prison bosses insist most staff are hardworking and honest, but admit they’re stepping up efforts to catch those breaking the rules.
