A prison officer who was filmed having sex with an inmate inside a jail cell has pleaded guilty to misconduct.
Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, was charged after footage of the activity inside HMP Wandsworth was shared on social media.
A police investigation was launched after officers were made aware of a video filmed inside the south London prison.
Ms De Sousa Abreu, of Fulham, south-west London, was arrested and charged with misconduct in public office. She wore a light-coloured suit and brown top for the short hearing at Isleworth Crown Court.
The charge states that Ms De Sousa Abreu “wilfully and without reasonable excuse or justification misconducted yourself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust in the office holder by engaging in a sexual act with a prisoner in a prison cell”.
It happened at HMP Wandsworth between June 26-28.
Ms De Sousa Abreu was arrested at Heathrow Airport and was due to catch a flight to Madrid having notified the prison of her travel plans.
Tetteh Turkson, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “This was a shocking breach of the public’s trust. De Sousa was clearly an enthusiastic participant who wrongly thought she would avoid responsibility.
“The CPS recognises there is no excuse for any prison officer who conducts themselves in such a manner, and we will never hesitate to prosecute those who abuse their position of power.
“After working closely with the Metropolitan Police to build the strongest possible case, De Sousa had no option but accept she was guilty. She will now rightly face the consequences of her actions.”
Ms De Sousa Abreu, who holds a Portuguese passport, was granted conditional bail and will next appear at Isleworth Crown Court on Nov 7.
Source Agencies
