Prison officer jailed over affair with inmate

A prison officer who admitted having an intimate relationship with an inmate after she "proper fell in love with him" has been jailed.

At one point, Morgan Farr Varney, 24, of West Avenue, Stainforth, was captured on CCTV entering a cupboard with the prisoner at HMP Lindholme, near Doncaster, a court heard.

A later search of the inmate's cell found love letters from the officer, who had worked at the Category C jail since April 2022.

Farr Varney pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office at Sheffield Crown Court on 16 April and was sentenced to 10 months in jail at the same court on Friday.

The court had previously been told that after joining HM Prison Service as an officer, Farr Varney entered a training programme involving anti-corruption, as well as input on conditioning from inmates and how to spot it.

During her employment at HMP Lindholme, CCTV evidence recovered as part of an investigation by South Yorkshire Police's Prison Anti-Corruption Unit showed Farr Varney entering a cupboard with the inmate and loitering with him on a wing.

A search of the inmate's cell led to the recovery of the love letters, with officers finding letters of a similar nature during a search of Farr Varney's bedroom.

Farr Varney was arrested in January 2023 on suspicion of misconduct in public office and when she was interviewed by officers she said she had "proper fell in love" with the inmate.

After being released on bail, she resigned from her role at HMP Lindholme, while the inmate with whom she had been involved was transferred to another prison.

However, Sheffield Crown Court hard that the pair's relationship continued, with officers recovering photographs of Farr Varney from the inmate who was then being held at HMP Wealstun.

Following sentencing, Det Con Scott Jarvis, leading the investigation, said: "We take any reports of improper relationships between prison staff and inmates incredibly seriously and conduct thorough investigations to ensure those who are guilty of these offences are brought to justice."

Det Con Jarvis added that such relationships were "rare", but when they did happen "they threaten to undermine the reputation of the Prison Service and other hard-working prison officers who abide by the rules and regulations attached to the job".