In a major development, a Prison Officer named Joanne Hunter was sentenced to three years of jail for her illicit affair with an inmate. Joanne Hunter who sent her explicit photos to her inmate lover broke down when she was handed over a three-year jail term and following that she blew a kiss of affection to her family before being taken by the authorities. As per reports, Joanne Hunter confessed to having an affair when she was employed at HMP Forest Bank in Salford in December 2020. Not only this, but Joanne Hunter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. Notably, Joanne Hunter also confessed on the charge of bringing or conveying cannabis into the prison.
As per UK media reports, Joann believed Connor Willis was 'in love' with her as she agreed to smuggle packages, including cannabis, into the prison for him. The Manchester Crown Court heard that Joanne sent her private photos to her inmate boyfriend which was also found on her phone. For the unversed, Joanne Hunter, 27, had started working at the prison in December 2018 after completing a master’s degree in Childhood and Youth studies.
The 27-year-old former Prison Officer first met Willis in early 2019 but did not like him at first as she believed he was 'arrogant and threw his weight around'. However, Joanne and Wills ended up in a relationship together soon after - with Hunter sneaking items into his cell. Notably, Joanne had also received £300 from his inmate boyfriend Wills for her efforts to smuggle items inside the prison for him, however, she refused to accept it.
Joanne and Wills' relationship finally came to light when in 2020 prison authorities found out that she smuggling items inside the jail. It is pertinent to mention here that Hunter admitted kissing Willis and being in a relationship with him but claimed the relationship “went no further”. Richard Orme, defending, said the Joanne was a "naive, impressionable and vulnerable young woman”. Recorder Paul Hodgkinson said she chose her own path based on "selfish desires".
It is pertinent to mention here that it is not the first time UK Prison Officer has been sentenced to jail over illicit relationship with inmates. Back in August, a female prison officer named Katie Loxton was recently sentenced to 12 months of jail time after her affair with an inmate came to the fore. Katie Loxton, 25, was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a prisoner named Adam Higgs. Katie Loxton was working at HMP Oakwood in Staffordshire when she had an affair with Adam Higgs. Not only this, the investigation revealed that Katie Loxton had sexual conversations with Adam over call.