Prison worker jailed over relationship with inmate

A prison worker who had an inappropriate relationship with an inmate at a Lincolnshire prison has been jailed for 12 months.

Nikki Croft, 51, admitted the misconduct while serving at HMP Morton Hall, a Category C men's prison, near Lincoln.

Croft, who referred to the prisoner by the initials LZ, also admitted providing 11 illicit SIM cards, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

The defendant, whose address can not be disclosed because of a court order, admitted two charges of misconduct in public office.

Declan Austin, prosecuting, said Croft began working at the prison in 2022 and was employed as a civilian inclusion support coordinator, helping inmates with learning difficulties.

"She became infatuated with him (LZ) and accepts she started speaking to him in December 2022, into January 2023," the prosecutor said.

The court heard Croft had been placed under investigation and suspended after rumours began to circulate within the prison, but she denied any wrongdoing at "a challenge meeting" in February 2023.

Croft subsequently had the suspension removed and resumed working at the prison in April 2023 after the investigation proved inconclusive.

However, the court heard suspicions were again raised after she continued to stay in contact with LZ.

"She sent photographs of herself to him, who by this time was at HMP Lincoln, and were subsequently found in his cell," Austin said.

"They were photos of her in sexually motivated positions, in underwear," the prosecutor added.

The court heard one of the sim cards had also been used 9,477 times by inmates.

In mitigation, Neil Sands asked why a woman of "adult years" had succumbed to an inmate.

"It is clear in this case there was an infatuation," he said, adding her previous relationships had left her "extremely vulnerable".

Passing sentence on Friday, Recorder Luke Blackburn said Croft's conduct had left her vulnerable to blackmail and corruption for which she had received training.

The judge told Croft: "You formed a relationship with a prisoner, you became infatuated with him.

"So much so you sent him pictures and had a pillow at your home with a picture of him.

"The risks of that are obvious to anyone."

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