Prison officer given suspended sentence for inmate affair in Wales

A prison officer at HMP Prescoed in Usk, Monmouthshire, has been given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to an inappropriate relationship with an inmate who was released on licence. Megan Breen, 23, an operational support member with direct contact with prisoners, engaged in a relationship with the inmate between February and May 2022.

The inmate, jailed for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, met Breen while on home leave in the Merseyside-Cheshire area. They went for drinks in Liverpool during a trip to Breen’s 20th birthday, accompanied by two prison colleagues. Back at Prescoed, the pair exchanged hundreds of messages, and Breen accessed the prison database to locate a photo of the inmate. Police later seized the inmate’s prison-issued Nokia phone, which contained messages that included heart symbols and expressions of love. A note with Breen’s contact details was found in the inmate’s cell.

Breena admitted to the “short-lived relationship,” telling investigators that some staff and prisoners were aware of it. The breach prompted a internal and police investigation after a colleague raised concerns when Breen accessed the inmate’s photo in the prison system. She initially gave no comment in interviews but later pleaded guilty before trial. Investigators confirmed Breen made several trips to Liverpool in April 2022, after the inmate was released on licence in March 2022.

During the Cardiff Crown Court hearing, Breen’s defense argued she was a single mother and a caregiver for another child, and she had recently learned she was pregnant. Scott Bowen, her lawyer, described the case as a heavy burden on Breen, stating she would face long-term consequences in balancing motherhood and work. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke noted Breen showed remorse, did not pose a danger to the public, and highlighted her pregnancy and childcare duties as critical considerations. The judge ruled that immediate custody would harm Breen’s dependents, including her unborn child, and described the case as exceptional, opting to suspend the sentence.

As part of the ruling, Breen was ordered to complete 15 days of rehabilitation and pay £500 in costs. A second charge of unauthorised computer access was placed on file rather than pursued at trial. The decision underscores the ongoing tension in correctional services between maintaining security and recognizing personal circumstances that affect staff responsibilities and family obligations.