A female prison officer has been jailed after she was caught having an improper relationship with a prisoner, sending over 4,000 intimate messages and engaging in video calls and physical contact.
Jailhouse Affair Exposed
Toni Cole, 29, who worked at the HMP Five Wells super-prison in Northamptonshire, sent 4,369 messages to an inmate and took part in 18 video calls, some of which contained flirtatious and sexualized contact.
During their secret relationship, Cole also:
- Kissed the prisoner and sat on his lap
- Gave unauthorised warnings about upcoming cell searches
- Engaged in intimate conversations while on duty
The misconduct took place between 9 December 2022 and 25 January 2023 before it was uncovered by prison authorities.
Legal Consequences
Cole, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office and was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Northampton Crown Court.
She is the second female officer at HMP Five Wells to be convicted of such offences.
Previous Incidents at HMP Five Wells
The £253 million prison, run by G4S, has been at the centre of multiple misconduct cases involving staff-inmate relationships:
- Rachel Stanton, 31, a trainee officer, was convicted last summer for a relationship with an armed robber, which was caught on CCTV in a prison storeroom.
- Another unnamed female officer was arrested and suspended for similar misconduct in December 2024.
HMP Five Wells has also faced criticism for staff safety concerns, drug smuggling, and food shortages, raising questions about the management and security within the facility.
Authorities Respond
A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police stated:
“Prison officers hold a position of trust, and any abuse of this responsibility will not be tolerated. Cole’s actions compromised the integrity of the justice system and put staff and inmates at risk.”
Authorities have vowed to tighten security measures and improve staff oversight to prevent further incidents of misconduct at HMP Five Wells.
Public Reaction
The case has sparked debate about security lapses and corruption within UK prisons, with calls for stricter vetting processes for prison staff.
Cole will now serve her sentence behind bars, a stark reminder of the consequences of breaking professional boundaries in the prison system.
