A prison officer caught in a steamy secret affair with a notorious gangster has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Charlotte Winstanley, 27, risked it all for love – and maybe a baby – while on duty at HMP Lindholme, South Yorkshire.
Forbidden Romance Behind Bars
Winstanley admitted misconduct after striking up a scandalous relationship with inmate Jabhari Blair, 30, a convicted gang member serving over 12 years for stabbing. The pair met in August 2022 when she supervised him on the prison wing. Their illicit affair reportedly lasted around three years, featuring secret meet-ups, explicit texts, and smuggling banned items into the prison.
‘Worst Corruption Case’ – Judge Slams Officer
At Sheffield Crown Court, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC branded the case “by far the worst” corruption he’d ever seen. He slammed Winstanley for choosing “the wrong path” in what he called an “exceptionally serious” breach of trust.
“You chose the wrong path. This was a case of right and wrong,” the Judge told the disgraced officer.
Love Notes and Prison Secrets
Secret messages revealed Winstanley’s obsession, with texts saying she was “literally praying” to be pregnant with Blair’s child. After being suspended, she was caught on a video call gushing her love and hopes she was carrying his baby.
More damningly, prosecutors exposed how she passed Blair sensitive info – from intelligence on other prisoners to details about his transfer plans. She also snuck in forbidden items like SIM cards and took photos inside the jail, all at Blair’s request.
Sentences Served Cold
- Winstanley, from Doncaster, locked up for 2½ years.
- Blair added 13 months to his sentence for possessing a phone, cannabis, and a USB stick in his cell.
