Prison Officer's Illicit Affair with Gangster Inmate Exposed in Court
A besotted prison officer, who told a jailed gangster she was 'literally praying' to have his baby, now faces up to ten years in prison after admitting to a serious breach of public trust. Charlotte Winstanley, aged 27, engaged in a forbidden sexual relationship with dangerous inmate Jabhari Blair while working at HMP Lindholme in South Yorkshire.
Explicit Messages and Secret Encounters
Sheffield Crown Court heard detailed evidence of the illicit romance, which began in August 2022 when Winstanley was posted to J Wing, where Blair was under her direct supervision. Despite having received training in corruption prevention, Winstanley became infatuated with the inmate, who is serving a twelve-and-a-half-year sentence for stabbing a man during a mass brawl in Bradford.
Prosecutors presented explicit WhatsApp and Snapchat messages exchanged between the pair, in which they professed their love and discussed intimate details of their relationship. In one particularly revealing exchange, Blair expressed his desire to give Winstanley a 'beautiful baby', to which she replied: 'I’m literally, literally praying to have your baby.'
The court was told that Winstanley confided in a colleague about having daily sexual encounters with Blair, describing it as 'the best sex she ever had'. Surveillance footage showed her leading the inmate into a locked office on multiple occasions, including once for three minutes before her shift began and another time for forty minutes later the same day.
Smuggling Contraband and Breaching Confidentiality
The relationship extended beyond sexual misconduct into criminal activity. Following concerns from prison authorities, Winstanley's phone was seized, revealing that she had been acting as Blair's link to the outside world. Investigators found messages in which Blair directed her to purchase contraband items, including SIM cards and SD cards, and even instructed her to browse the Argos website to select items for smuggling into the Category C prison.
In a further breach of protocol, Winstanley met with Blair's mother outside the prison and shared confidential information, including sensitive plans to transfer him to another facility. Using the pseudonym 'Debbie Embleton', she sent emails to Blair declaring: 'Every sacrifice I made I did it so I could be with you. I love my job but I love you more.'
Judicial Condemnation and Remorse
Recorder of Sheffield, Jeremy Richardson KC, described the case as 'exceptionally serious' and 'much worse than many of the other cases' involving female prison officers jailed for misconduct. He highlighted the prolonged nature of the affair, the smuggling activities, and Winstanley's continued pursuit of the relationship even after suspension, including registering to visit Blair at HMP Ranby in Nottinghamshire.
Winstanley's defence barrister, Khadim Al-Hassan, argued that his client had lived a sheltered life, with this being only her second job and her previous relationship dating back to when she was fifteen. He stated that while the relationship was not instigated by her, she accepts full responsibility and is 'deeply remorseful' for her actions.
Blair, who also admitted to possessing cannabis, a phone, and a USB stick in his cell, was described by Judge Richardson as having 'corrupted a prison officer, had sex with her and behaved in the most reprehensible fashion'. His defence noted he had made 'impressive progress' in prison by completing various courses.
Both Winstanley and Blair have been remanded in custody, with sentencing scheduled for Monday. The case serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences for those who betray their positions of authority within the prison system.
