Prison officer faces being locked up over tattoo of inmate’s phone number
A YOUNG prison officer who tattooed an inmate’s phone number on her thigh could spend time behind bars.
Scarlett Aldrich, from Sowerby, was only 20 at the time she began a “flirty” relationship with an inmate known as Jones at HMP Full Sutton near Pocklington.
Aldrich smuggled in a mobile phone and a sim card for the inmate which was found in his bottom after the relationship was reported.
In his cell, officers also found love letters from Aldrich and would later intercept a photograph sent to the inmate of a tattoo on her upper left thigh of his phone number.
Suspicions of their relationship first arose in August 2019 when Aldrich and Jones were seen chatting together for some time in the prison workshop.
Hull Crown Court heard that it had been noticed that she would spend a lot of time chatting to him.
“It was noticed that the defendant would enter the workshop, greet other prison staff, before going to sit with Jones and chat with him for up to an hour at a time,” said prosecutor Ayman Khokar. “These visits became more frequent and other prisoners commented on the closeness between the two.”
Aldrich’s time with Jones in the workshop got longer, roughly two hours each day while he was there. A staff member noticed the two “being flirty” and confronted Aldrich about their behaviour.
“She was warned about what her behaviour looked like,” said Mr Khokar, “but the defendant returned to the workshop and chatted with the prisoner.”
Concerns about a relationship between the two were reported and prison staff conducted a search of Jones’ cell.
A text message sent to the phone on September 9 read: “Abi is coming over so won’t be able to call. Miss you. Will try and get credit. Sending all my kisses.”
Another message a day later read: “At my mums. I’m not ignoring you. I have got you a voucher.”
On September 18, 2019, Aldrich was suspended from her role as a prison officer pending an investigation and she would later admit to governors that the relationship started following an argument with her then partner.
Aldrich, now 22, pleaded guilty to misconduct in a judicial or public office and conveying a list B article (a mobile phone and sim card) into prison.
It was revealed to the court that there was no sexual activity between the two and that Aldrich had no contact with Jones in his cell.
Aldrich, of Primrose Grove, Sowerby, is due to be sentenced by Judge John Thackray QC on Wednesday.
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