Toni Cole, a prison officer at HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, has been sentenced to a year in prison for having an inappropriate relationship with a 28-year-old male inmate.

The sentencing occurred at Northampton Crown Court on February 13, where Cole admitted to misconduct in a public office.

Alongside her prison term, she was required to pay a surcharge of £187.

An investigation uncovered that Cole had exchanged a significant total of 4,431 texts and calls with the inmate over a period of five months.

These communications were described as 'sexualized or flirtatious' and included a picture of underwear.

The investigation was initiated after a meeting held on January 25, 2023, to discuss unauthorized overtime Cole had worked two days earlier.

During that meeting, CCTV footage showed Cole spending considerable time with the inmate, including one instance where he placed his arm around her.

Additionally, the footage indicated that Cole sat on the inmate's lap and offered to inform him ahead of any planned searches of his cell by her colleagues.

Detective Inspector Richard Cornell from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit's Regional Prison Intelligence Unit criticized Cole's behavior as 'totally inappropriate,' highlighting that her actions posed risks not only to herself but also to the safety of her colleagues and fellow inmates.

Inspector Cornell pointed out that the majority of prison staff maintain high standards in their roles and underscored that this case should act as a warning against undermining public trust and engaging in inappropriate relationships while in positions of authority.

In a related matter, another UK prison officer is facing charges of misconduct following allegations of being involved in an intimate encounter with an inmate at HMP Wandsworth in London, with video evidence circulating on social media.