Prison Tutor Admits Misconduct After Intimate Relationship with Inmate
A prison tutor from Wiltshire is now facing the prospect of a custodial sentence after confessing to engaging in an intimate relationship with an inmate she was teaching. Kelly Duffey, aged 36 and residing in Amesbury, entered a guilty plea to two charges of misconduct in a public office at Winchester Crown Court.
Details of the Relationship and Charges
The court heard that Duffey was romantically involved with Ashley Goodridge, a 38-year-old prisoner, between July and September 2024. Their relationship included kissing and one physical sexual encounter during this period. The pair met while Duffey was employed as a tutor at HMP Erlestoke in Devizes, Wiltshire, which is a Category C, all-male prison facility where Goodridge was incarcerated.
Prison tutors typically provide academic or vocational lessons to inmates, assisting them in working towards qualifications. However, Duffey's actions breached her professional duties. The specific charges against her involved willfully neglecting her duty and misconducting herself as a holder of public office.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing Warnings
One charge related to entering and engaging in an intimate relationship with a prisoner, while the other concerned failing to notify prison authorities about knowledge of an inappropriate relationship between staff and an inmate. Goodridge also admitted to possessing a phone in prison and using it to transmit an image, which was employed to contact Duffey regarding their relationship.
Recorder Gemma White, presiding over the case, issued a stern warning to Duffey. She emphasized that all sentencing options are under consideration, including the likelihood of an immediate jail term. Both defendants have been released on unconditional bail, with sentencing scheduled for April 16.
Prosecution Arguments and Court Appearances
Prosecutor Roxanne Cole argued that the cases of Duffey and Goodridge are inextricably linked and should be heard together. She stated that the phone possessed by Goodridge was used to send messages to Duffey about their relationship, underscoring the connection between the offences.
The pair initially appeared at Salisbury Magistrates' Court last month, where the charges were first brought. Goodridge attended the recent hearing via video link from HMP Coldingley in Surrey, where he is currently serving his sentence. Although both were granted unconditional bail, Goodridge's bail is technical as he remains imprisoned.
Chair magistrate Paul Robinson advised Duffey to avoid any possibility of further offending, noting that such actions could exacerbate her situation. The court's focus now shifts to the upcoming sentencing, where the consequences of this breach of trust will be determined.
