Prison worker walks free after forming relationship with inmate
A prison worker walked away from the court after establishing a relationship with a convicted drug dealer.
23 -year -old Megan Breen would go to Merseyside region to meet the prisoner while on home permission, and even stay in a hotel with him to celebrate his 20th birthday.
Cardiff Crown Court heard Breen was working as an operational support class worker at HMP Prescoed, a D. Category Open Prison in Gwent.
He met the anonymous prisoner while working at night shifts and arranged him to meet him while he was at home in the Merseyside region, which was prepared to be released.
In October 2020, he was imprisoned for four months for four years.
The court heard that Breen had a message on a prison mobile Nokia phone where the prisoner was given to him during his home permission and daily release, and also visited Liverpool and socialized with his family.
Breen was employed in prison since June 2021 and warned about the dangers of establishing inappropriate relationships with prisoners during induction training.
In March 2022, a colleague trusted and suspended about the relationship that informs his superiors.
Prosecutor’s Office Thomas Stanway said to the court: “His reaction was disbelief and confirmed that he met the prisoner while the house was released and returned to his hotel together.
“He also explained that he met his family and loved him and loved them.”
Breen said he had met the prisoner in Merseyside as part of a one -night trip to celebrate his 20th birthday.
The prisoner met Breen and his two colleagues before he returned to the hotel room for drinks, who did not know him.
Breen made a trip to Liverpool between 1-14 April – 4 April – 4 April to see the prisoner who was released with a license on March 31.
“The defendant in the defense case statement admits that he had a short -lived relationship with him shortly after being released from prison,” Stanway said.
The prisoner’s cell was later searched and a piece of paper was recovered with Breen’s mobile phone number and Snapchat arm.
The calls of Breen’s mobile phone found messages and calls between him and the prisoner.
“Messages have a clear relationship between the defendant and the male prisoner, Stan said Stanway.
“The defendant and the male prisoner said that they loved each other and used other love and heart emojis.”
Defending Scott Bowen, Breen’s little son was a single mother, acted as a caregiver for another child and discovered that he was pregnant soon.
“This is a matter that will disturb him,” he said.
“On the hardest morning of his life, he made it clear that he knew goodbye to his son and cannot see him for predictable.”
Cardiff recorder Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said Breen shows “regret ve for his actions and did not pose a danger to the public.
He said that there are important factors in deciding to suspend the punishment of Breen’s pregnancy and child care responsibilities.
Im I am glad that your guilt is high and you know what you are doing, ”he said.
“You told a colleague about a recent birthday trip to Liverpool with two colleagues.
“When you were there, you explained that he was lying with a man who was a prisoner in Prescoed, where he was talking during the night tasks.
“When they call the description, you defined the prisoner by pointing to the photo on the screen.
“Initially they thought it might be a joke, but you said you met the prisoner while on home leave, went out for drinks, and finally returned to your hotel.
“You announced that the prisoner met his family.
“You introduced your two colleagues to a very difficult position by introducing them to the prisoner they did not know, so that you accidentally violated the ban on contact with a prisoner.
“It is clear that instant custody will harm others, your son, your unborn child and the child you care about.
“I am glad that your pregnancy, your son’s needs, your unborn child and the child you care about is an extraordinary situation and that the sentence should be suspended.”
The judge sentenced him to 10 -month imprisonment for 18 months, ordered him to pay £ 500 in prosecution costs and to rehabilitation for 15 days.
A second unauthorized computer access was ordered to lay in the file.
