A veteran prison governor has been dismissed after he was filmed walking out of a brothel in Sheffield, the Daily Mail can reveal.
Governor's Dismissal Following Internal Investigation
Rob Kellett, a Prison Service veteran who had been in charge at HMP Lindholme in South Yorkshire since 2011, was sacked for a breach of professional standards. The dismissal followed an internal investigation launched by the Ministry of Justice after the Mail made officials aware of the footage.
The video, which circulated on social media over the summer, showed a man said to be Mr Kellett leaving a venue called GFE in Sheffield. The premises describes itself as a 'premier massage parlour' offering 'the best choice of girls'. A Mail reporter who visited was offered services described as GFE – 'girlfriend experience' – which involves intimate acts.
Security Risks and a History of Scandals
Prison staff face disciplinary action for using sex workers due to significant personal integrity and security concerns. Former prison governor Ian Acheson warned that such behaviour leaves staff vulnerable to blackmail from inmates.
'Governors are not immune to blackmail and manipulation as a result of such reckless behaviour,' he told the Mail. He added that the focus should be on fixing chaos within prisons, noting that at the last inspection, 21 per cent of prisoners at Lindholme reported acquiring a drug habit while in custody.
Mr Kellett's tenure coincided with a string of scandals at the Category C training prison. These included officer Charlotte Winstanley, 27, who had a 'romantic relationship' with inmate Jabhari Blair before smuggling in contraband. Another officer, Morgan Farr Varney, 24, was sentenced to 10 months in jail this year after being caught in a cupboard with a convicted drug dealer, admitting she had fallen 'proper in love' with him.
Fallout and Ongoing Challenges
Mr Kellett, who had a decade of service and previously served as director of HMP Birmingham, was dismissed within the last few weeks. A Prison Service spokesman stated: 'Where officers fall below our high standards, we do not hesitate to take robust action.'
The last Independent Monitoring Board report for Lindholme found three deaths in custody in the year to January 2025. It noted increased violence linked to 'significant amounts' of drugs and contraband, while praising management's 'tireless' work to improve the situation.
The prison, which oversees more than 900 inmates and staff, is meant to prepare inmates for release through work and education.
