HMP Doncaster officer ‘fell in love’ with inmate during violent gang ordeal

HMP Doncaster staff became aware of a "potentially inappropriate relationship" between Chelsie Stephenson and the prisoner in December 2018, and began monitoring them.

CCTV showed her visiting his cell after the normal lockdown time of 6.30pm, on January 10, 2019, said prosecutor Neil Coxon.

After he was moved to HMP Hatfield, prior to his release, Stephenson visited him as a private citizen and listed herself as his partner.

Police discovered a letter from him and multiple phone calls and messages, between December 27 and January 21, on her iphone.

"He showed empathy over time and as that happened her feelings for him developed," said Mr Coxon.

“She considered that she was in love with him and was fully aware of the consequences.”

Gordon Stables, mitigating, said Stephenson, who has no previous convictions, deserved credit for an early guilty plea.

He said there was no evidence that the prison's security was compromised or that other prisoners knew about the relationship.

After Stephenson became a prison officer in January 2018, she and her partner were subjected to harassment and threats from a local gang.

Their car was torched in August 2018 and they were threatened with a knife, Mr Stables said.

In November 2018, her Citroen C1 was peppered with a shotgun blast, and in December their windows were put through and car tyres were slashed. She was abused in the street and a shotgun was fired through her letter box. More recently she was sprayed with CS gas.

Eventually, Stephenson and her partner had to be moved out of the area for fear of reprisals.

“She is hopeful that she won't be found there,” said Mr Stables. "All the time, whenever she leaves her home, she is looking over her shoulder.

“Prison officers can attract great approbation from a large number of people who live in that area.

“And so it was, towards the end of 2018, having lived through this hell and having difficulty with her personal relationships, she was at a very low ebb.”

Stephenson, 27, pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office, on November 19, last year.

On Friday, Judge Graham Reeds QC praised both barristers for how they outlined the case.

He told the defendant: “It was not just you at risk when you formed this relationship, but potentially the whole staff at this prison.”

He said Stephenson had “a wretched start in life” and her long-term relationship had broken down while she was working at HMP Doncaster.

“This made you emotionally vulnerable to behave in the way you did,” he told her. “I am sure you thought this was the start of an enduring emotional relationship.”

Stephenson was sentenced to eight months, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and attend 30 rehabilitation days.