6 days ago
Female prison guard who triggered 100 corruption alerts is facing jail over alleged illicit relationship with gangster behind bars
A rookie prison officer who triggered more than 100 corruption alerts in just five months is facing jail - after allegedly embarking on an illicit fling with a dangerous gangster behind bars.
Megann Gibson, 26, exchanged 'very explicit' letters hinting the pair had sex while she was on duty at Wealstun prison, near Wetherby, a court heard today.
The unnamed prisoner, described as 'extremely manipulative', is said to be a member of an organised crime group serving an indefinite public protection sentence.
Gibson, from Leeds, also visited the Sheffield-based inmate's home, bombarded his mother with more than 900 text messages, and reportedly met members of his feared crime gang on the outside.
She is set to be jailed in November after admitting misconduct in a public office and possession of cannabis.
Leeds Crown Court heard that in just five months of working at the Category C resettlement prison, her behaviour triggered 102 anti-corruption intelligence reports.
The red flags equated to almost one every working day, Judge Kate Rayfield noted.
Prosecutor Louise Pryke told the court that in one letter the criminal thanked Gibson for a vape and described enjoying their kisses.
Gibson, who lives in a semi-detached home with her sister (pictured together) and driving instructor mother in the Gipton suburb of Leeds, was previously warned by a judge that she could face a prison sentence
She said: 'I don't know if they had sex or not.
'It seems from the content of the letters that they did.'
Ms Pryke added: 'This was an inappropriate relationship with a prisoner which included very explicit letters that were sent about sexual activity.
'The nature of the letters [suggests] there probably was [sexual activity], but the crown can't say for definite.
'It's a wholly inappropriate relationship with a serving prisoner who is a member of an organised crime group.
'There's some suggestion she met with members of that group.'
Gibson was suspected by police of having contact with crime gang members suspected of smuggling cannabis vape pens into the prison.
The court heard there was no evidence Gibson smuggled the devices into the jail, but police investigations revealed one of the gang member's phones contained her number.
Intelligence reports filed by the prison included Gibson being seen smoking cannabis in her car whilst in uniform outside the prison, and after being stopped at security with prohibited tobacco.
The court heard there was 'no evidence' that she smuggled contraband inside.
Ms Pryke said prison bosses were concerned that Gibson spent an 'inordinate amount of time with inmates, going into their cells.
'Other officers were not able to find her when she was supposed to be on duty.'
On one occasion, Gibson was AWOL and found outside the cell of a serving prisoner who later tried to add her mobile number to his list of prison-approved contacts.
Despite repeated corruption alerts, Gibson was allowed to continue on duty after being given 'educational training'.
Gibson admitted misconduct between April and May 2023 but her account of her criminality, known as a basis of plea, is disputed.
Upon her arrest, police discovered £1,000 in cash, which Gibson claimed to have been withdrawn from her bank.
However, checks revealed no such transaction took place.
Gibson later said she had been saving for a tattoo.
A hearing will be held in November to determine the basis on which her sentencing should proceed.
Gibson, who lives in a semi-detached home in the Gipton suburb of Leeds, covered her face as she arrived at court and was seen sobbing shortly before proceedings began.
Judge Rayfield told Gibson, who was released on unconditional bail: 'You will appreciate that it is important that we get this right and you have the opportunity to be heard, if you want to be heard, because only you know what really happened.'
A previous court hearing was told Gibson had undergone assessments for mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress linked to a previous relationship.
The case comes amid a surge in female officers caught in inappropriate relationships with inmates.
At least 30 women have been sacked in the past three years - more than triple the number from the previous three-year period.
Last month, Olivia Johnson was jailed for three-and-a-half years for smuggling £35,000 worth of drugs into jail for a convicted gangster.
Johnson, 27, attempted to sneak in paper soaked with the synthetic drug Spice for dangerous Javelle Taylor, 29, while working at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk.
Katie Evans, 26, embarked on an illicit romance with inmate Daniel Brownley while working at HMP Doncaster, calling herself his 'queen' as she lavished him with attention.
The mother-of-one, who was jailed for 21 months in March, boasted about sex acts on the criminal and collecting drugs cash on his behalf.
Her criminal behaviour was exposed during an anti-corruption investigation into another crooked guard at the category B jail.
Morgan Farr Varney, 24, was jailed for ten months after being caught slipping into a cupboard with a prisoner while working at HMP Lindholme in South Yorkshire.
She became besotted with crack cocaine dealer Jordan Stones, 30, who pinned racy snaps of his prison officer lover to his cell walls.
In January, former Wandsworth prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu, 31, was jailed for 15 months after a film of her having sex with an inmate was shared online.
