Prison Officer Jailed For Having Love Affair With Convicted Burglar, Breaching Protocols
Their relationship, marked by exchanged love letters and hours of phone calls, was discovered when prison staff raised concerns about Hindle’s increased time with Holmes, staying late without reason.
Cheryl Hindle, a 44-year-old prison officer, was sentenced to four months in jail for engaging in an inappropriate relationship with Dean Holmes, a convicted burglar.
The illicit affair began while Hindle was employed at HMP Kirkham in Preston, United Kingdom, where she helped inmates with employment and education, Mail Online reports.
Their relationship, marked by exchanged love letters and hours of phone calls, was discovered when prison staff raised concerns about Hindle’s increased time with Holmes, staying late without reason.
Hindle also violated protocols by driving Holmes to an exam 20 miles away, stopping at a private address in Accrington for 90 minutes.
Despite Holmes being transferred to Lancaster Farms Prison, the pair continued their communication. Holmes added Hindle’s personal number to his prison contacts, and in one call, he complimented the design of her mother’s house, to which Hindle replied it would be “their future house.” Between May and June 2022, they made 25 calls totaling four hours.
Hindle also made unauthorised visits to Lancaster Farms and accessed Holmes’s prison file illegally. Her office at HMP Kirkham was later searched, uncovering love letters between the two.
In a police interview, Hindle admitted to “making mistakes,” explaining she wasn’t thinking clearly and felt vulnerable at the time. Holmes, meanwhile, was sentenced to three months after admitting to encouraging or assisting in the commission of an indictable-only offence.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris McClellan emphasised efforts to tackle prison corruption, stating, “We are robust in our efforts to tackle prison corruption… the minority who engage in inappropriate behaviour will be investigated.”
He urged prison staff to report any warning signs of misconduct.
Hindle pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office and unauthorised access to computer material.
