A former HMP Wandsworth prison officer has been sentenced to 15 months in jail after being caught on video engaging in sexual activity with an inmate.
The clip, which went viral online, led to Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, being identified and subsequently arrested at Heathrow Airport as she attempted to board a flight to Madrid with her father.
Abreu pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office after the incident, which occurred between June 26 and June 28 at the London prison. During sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court, it was revealed that a second recording of her performing a sex act with the same inmate was discovered on her prison-issued body camera. Abreu also admitted to having sexual relations with the inmate on another occasion.
Judge Martin Edmunds KC described her actions as part of repeated misconduct, not an isolated lapse.
The governor of Wandsworth Prison, Andrew Davy, said Abreu’s behavior had significantly undermined the progress female officers had made in all-male prisons. In a statement, he revealed female staff now face increased harassment from prisoners, who view them as “fair game.”
A Prison Service spokesperson emphasized their commitment to rooting out corruption, noting improvements to the Counter Corruption Unit and stricter vetting procedures.
The Prison Officers’ Association condemned the actions of the small minority who undermine the integrity of prison staff, reaffirming their support for measures to uphold professional standards.
[Image via Met Police]