Linda De Sousa Abreu, a 30-year-old married prison officer from Fulham, London, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for engaging in sexual activities with inmate Linton Weirich at HMP Wandsworth.
The illicit encounters, which occurred between June 26 and 28, 2024, were recorded and widely disseminated on social media, leading to significant reputational damage for the prison service.
The explicit footage, lasting approximately four and a half minutes, was captured by another inmate using an unauthorized mobile phone.
In the video, De Sousa Abreu, dressed in her full prison uniform, is seen engaging in sexual acts with Weirich, while the filming inmate provides commentary, including remarks like, “This is how we live at Wandsworth, bruv.”
De Sousa Abreu’s misconduct came to light after the video went viral, prompting an investigation by prison authorities. She was arrested at Heathrow Airport while attempting to board a flight to Madrid, having notified the prison of her travel plans. During the investigation, it was revealed that her body-worn camera had inadvertently recorded part of the illicit encounter, further implicating her in the misconduct.
In court, De Sousa Abreu pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office. Judge Martin Edmunds KC emphasized the gravity of her actions, stating that her behavior represented a severe breach of trust and had caused significant harm to the integrity of the prison system. He noted that her conduct had led to increased harassment of female staff by inmates and had undermined years of positive developments in staff-inmate interactions.
Following her sentencing, De Sousa Abreu was transferred to HMP Bronzefield, where she is housed in a unit designated for high-profile inmates. This unit includes individuals such as Lucy Letby and Beinash Batool, providing enhanced security measures to protect inmates from potential attacks.
The case has prompted prison authorities to reaffirm their commitment to maintaining high standards of conduct among staff and to take strict action against those who violate the rules. A spokesperson for the prison service stated that such behavior compromises prison discipline and safety and will not be tolerated.
