Prison officer sent 'praying to have your babies' message to inmate during affair
A prison officer who told an inmate "I'm literally praying to have your babies" during their "romantic and intimate" relationship is set to be sentenced today (Monday)Charlotte Winstanley sneaked in various forbidden items for convicted gang member Jabhari Blair, including a mobile phone used for swapping intimate photos and videos. Judge Jeremy Richardson KC informed Sheffield Crown Court on Friday (January 30) that it's the most serious case of its kind he has come across.Charlote Winstanley, of Coronation Road, Doncaster, became tearful in the dock as the judge stated: "For a prison officer, young or old, to have conducted a sexual affair with a prisoner is bad enough. For it to be over a prolonged period of time worsens the matter."And, then, to be a party to smuggling in various items and to brazen it out when prison officials raise issues and give you an opportunity to confess – and it gets worse," reports Yorkshire Live.The court heard that messages between Winstanley and Blair revealed Mondays were their designated "date nights". Prosecutor Aaron Dinnes presented explicit sexual messages between the pair, which he argued confirmed their relationship was sexual.He also pointed out that prison cameras caught intimate moments of them touching and disappearing together into rooms.Mr Dinnes highlighted one message from Blair expressing his eagerness to "can't wait to give Miss Winstanley a beautiful baby". In one message to Blair, currently an inmate but previously from Leeds, Mr Dinnes said Winstanley wrote: "I'm literally praying to have your babies."The prosecutor revealed: "They also discussed how Mondays are their date nights."He shared another text from Winstanley, which read: "Life starts now, baby. Every sacrifice I make I do so I can be with you."A further message stated: "I love my job but I love you more."The prosecution detailed how Winstanley "acted as his link to outside", with investigators uncovering that he had even forwarded her a link to the Argos website, detailing items he wanted smuggled into the prison. The court heard that Winstanley went so far as to visit Blair's mother at her home in Leeds.Mr Dinnes explained that after her suspension and Blair's relocation to another facility, Winstanley registered as an authorised visitor and held virtual meetings with him at his new prison, keeping the relationship alive for around three years in total. The prosecution also disclosed that Winstanley provided Blair with confidential information about prisoner movements, other inmates' medical records and a search carried out on his own cell.This was especially serious considering Blair's involvement with an organised crime group, for which he was handed a 12-and-a-half year sentence for violent crimes in 2014, Mr Dinnes informed the court.The prosecutor disclosed that Blair had promised Winstanley he would use his prison connections to guarantee she would "remain protected" and had "told her that somebody was ready to fight immediately, if necessary". Winstanley had only qualified as a prison officer in April 2022, having previously worked at the establishment as an operational support officer.Mr Dinnes emphasised that her training programme had included specific modules on relationships and corruption.The court heard that Winstanley spoke about her new "boyfriend" with colleague Morgan Farr Varney, another recently qualified prison officer. Varney herself was handed a 10-month prison sentence last year after becoming involved in a relationship with an inmate at HMP Lindholme.Khadim Al'Hassan, defending Winstanley, informed the judge that his client was merely 22 when she began working at the prison and had been in just one previous relationship during her school years at age 15. Mr Al'Hassan contended that the prison officer role requires maturity and life experience that his client simply didn't possess, describing her employment as a "recipe for disaster".He said she was "deeply remorseful" but "wasn't really equipped with the skills and tools somebody would expect somebody in that position to have".Judge Jeremy Richardson KC addressed Winstanley and Blair: "This is arguably the worst case of its kind I have personally dealt with."It must be immediate custody but I'm not sure I should rush to judgment."Judge Richardson suggested he required time to thoroughly examine the case and told the pair he would deliver his sentence on Monday. He informed Blair that he had "corrupted a prison officer" and this was "about as bad as it gets".The judge directed that both defendants be remanded in custody.Winstanley has admitted guilt to misconduct in public office and transmitting a photograph from within a prison. Blair has confessed to possessing cannabis and prohibited items, specifically a phone and a USB stick.
