Five Wells prison officer jailed after relationship with inmate

A prison officer has been jailed for 12 months after developing a relationship with an inmate and behaving “inappropriately” with others.

Aimee Duke, from Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, was captured on CCTV entering prisoners’ cells at HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, despite having no professional reason to do so.

The 26-year-old admitted two counts of misconduct in a public office during a hearing in May – but denied two more.

She appeared at Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday and was handed the custodial sentence, while the other two counts were ordered to remain on file.

Northamptonshire Police said Duke also took her own bag into the prison wing, which was prohibited.

She was found with one of the prisoners’ ID numbers in her purse during a search in August 2022, months after she had begun working at the Category C prison in April.

A text message found on her phone from a prisoner read: “I want us to be together 100%.”

In another message, Duke had written: “I can’t wait to see you”.

Det Insp Richard Cornell, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: “Prison officers are in positions of authority and unfortunately, Aimee Duke used her position to form inappropriate relationships.

“Her actions do not reflect the fact that most prison staff are law-abiding citizens who carry out their duties to the highest standards.

“I hope this sentence sends a clear message to those who seek to undermine public trust while holding positions of authority that inappropriate behaviour such as in this case will be robustly dealt with using the full force of the law.”