A Wandsworth prison officer, Linda De Sousa Abreu, aged 30, has pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office after engaging in sexual acts with an inmate, an incident that was captured on video and widely circulated on social media. The plea was entered during a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court in West London.
De Sousa Abreu, from Fulham, South West London, faced charges after authorities launched a police investigation upon discovering the video, which had quickly gone viral. The incident occurred between June 26 and June 28 inside HMP Wandsworth, raising serious concerns about conduct within the facility.
Dressed in a light-coloured suit and brown top, De Sousa Abreu maintained a composed demeanour throughout the proceedings. The court detailed how she had planned to travel to Madrid, having informed the prison of her itinerary, before her arrest at Heathrow Airport.
The charge brought against her stipulated that her actions constituted a “wilful and without reasonable excuse or justification misconduct” that significantly breached public trust. This incident highlights ongoing issues within the penal system, regarding the conduct of those tasked with supervising inmates.
As part of her bail conditions, De Sousa Abreu, who holds a Portuguese passport, was granted conditional release. She is scheduled to reappear at Isleworth Crown Court on November 7 for sentencing.
Tetteh Turkson, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, emphasised the severity of the breach of trust, stating, “This was a shocking breach of the public’s trust. De Sousa was clearly an enthusiastic participant who wrongly thought she would avoid responsibility.” He further affirmed the commitment of the CPS to prosecuting those who misuse their positions of power within public institutions.
The case has prompted a wider discussion on the standards and monitoring of prison staff conduct, as well as the repercussions of their actions on the integrity of the criminal justice system.
