Inmate wanted prison officer 'added to contacts after phone sex'

12 December 2023 , 20:02

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Ruth Shmylo is accused of having “phone sex” with a serving inmate at a Welsh prison after he slid her his number on a piece of paper (Image: Wales Online)

A prison inmate who allegedly had phone sex with a female prison officer later asked to have her added to his contact, a trial into her alleged misconduct has heard.

Ruth Shmylo is on trial after she allegedly had an "inappropriate relationship" with convicted drugs gang member prisoner Harri Pullen whilst working at HMP Parc in Bridgend, South Wales. The 26-year-old is said to have failed to report his advances and instead embarked on a relationship after he slid her his number on a piece of paper, before having an allegedly intimate phone conversation.

Standing trial for misconduct in a public offence at Cardiff crown court, it was heard Shmylo from Pontypridd allegedly had a relationship with Pullen between December 2020 - two months after she began the job - and April 2021.

The court heard Shmylo left that April after failing to pass her probationary period. However, prison bosses recorded phone conversations between the two, in which Pullen asked the defendant to tell him he loved her, which she refused to do, then told her he "missed her face".

Shmylo denies a count of misconduct in public office (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

She's accused of having an 'inappropriate relationship' with inmate Harry Pullen (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

HMP Parc's head of security Daniel Hayman told the court on Tuesday that Shmylo had had training on how to avoid conditioning, manipulation and exploitation at the hands of inmates. He added: "They may attempt to corner staff in a manner that might force them to be separated from their colleagues, to force them to do something they might not otherwise do."

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In January 2021, Shmylo was called into a meeting following a number of accusations made about her alleged relationship from both inmates and prison staff. Mr Hayman also told the court that Pullen later asked the prison to add Shmylo as a contact after her employment was terminated, so they could stay in contact.

Mr Hayman added: "(Inappropriate relationships) have the ability to undermine all the good work other staff do in prison... Staff are expected to maintain healthy and expected boundaries and to maintain order in the prison; that cannot happen if there is a personal relationship which can be compromised by the prisoner."

Shmylo worked at the prison between October 2020 and April 2021 when she failed to pass her probation (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

In cross examination, defence barrister Clare Wilks asked Mr Hayman if Pullen could be confrontational and the witness admitted the inmate could be "challenging". He referred to a decline in Pullen's behaviour, due to what he believed was his relationship with Shmylo.

Mr Hayman added: "It was exceptionally evident he had been in an established relationship with Ms Shmylo and our concern was that potential ongoing contact and relationship would put our staff at risk or at danger." The court also heard Shmylo had lodged grievances while working at the jail reporting colleagues for allegedly colluding with inmates to spit in a certain prisoner's food.

Shmylo, of Lewis Street, Treforest, denies one count of misconduct in a public office. The trial continues.

Susie Beever