Prison officer had romantic relationship with inmate

Chelsie Stephenson (27), of Creighton Avenue, Rawmarsh, was working at HMP Doncaster in December 2018 when colleagues suspected she might be in a relationship with a serving prisoner.

The prison reported concerns to the South Yorkshire Police Prison Investigation Team, and Stephenson was arrested the following month.

Officers who searched her home found a mobile phone that showed communication, including intimate messages, between Stephenson and the inmate.

Stephenson was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on June 12 to eight months in prison, suspended for two years.

She was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and up to 30 rehabilitation days.

Stephenson had pleaded guilty to misconduct in a judicial or public office and to sending an image or sound by electronic communication from within a prison

Det Cons Christian Borum, the investigating officer, said: “Stephenson admitted being in a relationship with a prisoner following her arrest.

“The public rightly expects a high standard of behaviour from prison officers, and Stephenson did not uphold these standards.

“It is important we continue to reinforce the message that behaviour like this will not be tolerated.”

The inmate, Daniel Checkley (28), had been serving time for drugs offences since February, 2018.

He admitted possession of a mobile phone in prison and transmitting an image or sound from within prison and was ordered to serve an extra 34 weeks.

He was released in mid-May.