27 August 2025 , 16:07
685
0
A prison officer has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after engaging in a relationship with an inmate to whom she sent numerous messages, while also behaving “inappropriately” with other prisoners.
Aimee Duke, 26, was captured on CCTV at HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, entering prisoners’ cells without any professional justification and acting inappropriately with inmates.
Northamptonshire Police stated that Duke, from Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes, also brought her own bag into the prison wing, which was against regulations.
Duke, who started working at the category C prison in April 2022, was searched in August of that year, and a piece of paper with a prisoner’s ID number was discovered in her purse.
Among many text messages found on her phone after her arrest at work, a prisoner wrote: “I want us to be together 100%,” while in another, Duke replied: “I can’t wait to see you.”
Police reported that Duke was charged with four counts of misconduct in a public office.
She admitted to two of these counts at a hearing in May and denied the other two.
On Tuesday, she appeared at Northampton Crown Court and received the custodial sentence, while the other two counts were ordered to remain on file, the force added.
Detective Inspector Richard Cornell from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit stated: “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 perform their duties to the highest standards.
“I hope this sentence sends a clear message to those who seek to undermine public trust while holding authoritative positions that inappropriate behavior such as this will be firmly dealt with using the full force of the law.”
World Affairs Correspondent