A WOMAN who entered into a relationship with an inmate at HMP Berwyn - while she was a serving prison officer - has been sentenced.

Jessica McCleary, of Pleasant View in Froncysyllte near Llangollen, appeared before Mold Crown Court on Friday, November 15.

The 29-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in public office.

Catherine Elvin, prosecuting, said that McCleary had entered into a relationship with Levi Weekes in October of last year, while he was an inmate at the Wrexham prison.

She had been a prison officer for six years at the time of the offence, the prosecution added.

The defendant had entered into a relationship with Weekes while she was already on a notice period served by the prison following 'poor performance'.

Further suspicions had been raised when she was stopped from bringing a USB stick into the prison.

Further enquiries revealed that McCleary and Weekes had been 'messaging' and had been meeting up 'more regularly' in his cell.

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The prosecution said that the pair 'began to have feelings' for one another and were 'sharing notes' and 'love messages' between one another which were recovered from Weekes' cell and McCleary's car.

The defendant was arrested on November 3, but messages between the pair continued.

At interview, McCleary made 'full and frank admissions' and added that she waned to maintain their relationship even after Weekes had been transferred to another prison.

The court heard that McCleary had no previous convictions and was a 'lady of previous good character'.

John Wyn Williams, defending, said that McCleary was 'remorseful' and that the offence was committed during a time when her 'life was in turmoil'.

Mr Williams added that their may have been an 'element of immaturity' on her part 'born out of a difficulty in her early years'.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said that the case was a 'very serious' one and one that 'puts the whole regime of prison at risk'.

The judge added: "You were putting you own interests first and letting down your colleagues. It was very wrong indeed, your behaviour served to undermine and risked the safety of the prison itself."

Judge Rowlands maintained however that, due to the fact there was no physical relationship between the pair in the prison itself and the fact that McCleary did not bring any items into the prison for Weekes, that he could pull back from an immediate custodial sentence in this case.

As such, McCleary was sentenced to eight months, suspended for two years.

She will have to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and undergo mental health treatment requirement for a year.