HMP Berwyn: 18 guards fired for having sexual relations with inmates

About 18 female guards in a single prison were fired for having affairs with inmates.

The sexual relations took place at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, Wales for the past six years.

Three of the women ended up in court and jailed, and the rest were exposed through freedom of information requests from The Mirror

Jennifer Gavan, 27, was jailed for eight months in December after smuggling a mobile phone for her lover Alex Coxon, 25, to send him photos of herself via Snapchat.

She was also caught kissing him during the relationship, which lasted from April to July 2020.

The officer pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office after accepting £150 to bring in the phone.

In 2019, Gunn was jailed for a year after having an affair with “dangerous” inmate Khuram Razaq, 29.

The criminology and psychology graduate made numerous sexual phone calls to him while he was serving a 12-year sentence for conspiracy to rob and smuggled in a pair of her knickers for the prisoner.

A search of their bedroom revealed snaps of the couple kissing and hugging in their cell.

That same year, Emily Watson was sentenced to one year in prison for sexually abusing prisoner John McGee.

Mold Crown Court heard she had been spending so much time with him that staff became suspicious and launched an investigation.

They had been alone in his cell three times when she twice performed a sexual act on him and once had intercourse.

Staff have since been trained in corruption prevention and prison security has been improved.

A Prison Service spokesman said: “The vast majority of Prison Service staff are hardworking and dedicated and we will have no hesitation in punishing those who break the rules.

“Over 500 HMP Berwyn staff have received anti-corruption training over the past 18 months and our improved security protects the prison from attempts to smuggle in illegal items.”

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, Visit our news page.