A young female prison officer who engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a prisoner has been spared from imprisonment. Megan Breen initiated the forbidden affair with an inmate while on duty at HMP Usk and HMP Prescoed, both located in Gwent, South Wales. Initially denying the involvement, the 23-year-old later confessed to her actions.
She had a sexual encounter with the inmate, a convicted drug dealer, in a hotel after traveling a considerable distance of 175 miles to meet him during his home release. Breen also met the prisoner’s family in Liverpool and exchanged numerous messages with him while he was incarcerated.
Today, she received a suspended 10-month prison sentence for 18 months. During the hearing at Cardiff Crown Court, Prosecutor Thomas Stanway revealed that Breen was apprehended after disclosing the relationship to a colleague while showing a photo of the male prisoner on a computer screen.
According to Stanway, Breen confided in her colleague about her trip to Liverpool with two other coworkers, where she engaged in a romantic encounter with the prisoner. She admitted to meeting him during his home leave, going for drinks, and returning to the hotel together. Breen also mentioned that other prisoners and colleagues were aware of their relationship.
When questioned about the potential consequences by her colleague, Breen nonchalantly mentioned a possible five-year penalty, but assured that no one would speak up. Her colleague, however, reported the confession to prison authorities, leading to the discovery of a note with Breen’s contact details in the inmate’s cell.
Further investigations revealed that Breen made multiple trips to Liverpool after the inmate’s release. The inmate, nearing the end of his drug-related sentence, was employed at a poultry farm and maintained contact with Breen through a mobile phone.
The court was informed that Breen and the inmate had communicated 558 times through the prison-issued device, expressing affection and love for each other. Breen’s defense attorney, Scott Bowen, mentioned her status as a single mother with a young child and another on the way, emphasizing her youth and lack of consideration for the consequences at the time of the offense.
Despite acknowledging her wrongdoing, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke acknowledged the exceptional circumstances surrounding Breen’s children and opted for a suspended sentence due to the potential adverse effects of immediate custody on her dependents.
HMP Usk, a Category C prison, accommodates 280 inmates and operates jointly with HMP Prescoed, an open prison located three miles away. The Ministry of Justice reported a surge in misconduct cases among prison staff in recent years, with 19 individuals facing charges between 2023 and 2024.
In recent cases, prison officers engaging in inappropriate relationships with inmates have faced legal consequences, highlighting the importance of upholding professional standards within correctional facilities.