Guard spared jail for ‘bizarre’ email
A PRISON officer has been spared jail over a “bizarre” email asking a governor to “have a quiet word” with a guard who was giving evidence at a series of abuse trials against former officers, including his dad.
John McGee’s father, also called John, was jailed for his part in the mistreatment of young inmates at Medomsley Detention Centre, near Consett, in the 1970s.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that McGee Jnr “hero worshipped” his dad and that Operation Seabrook, the investigation into the historic abuse of Medomsley inmates “took a huge toll” on his mental health.
The 51-year-old, who at the time worked at the maximum security Frankland Prison, sent an email to Phil Husband, the number one governor of Durham Prison, in January 2019, after his father was convicted of misconduct in a public office at Teesside Crown Court.
A Durham Prison officer, Hugh Cockburn, had given evidence at two trials, and was due to go in the witness box at a third trial of former Medomsley officers accused of abusing young inmates.
McGee wrote that Mr Cockburn had been “sticking the boot in” by giving evidence, adding: “If I had my way he would be dealt with if you know what I mean.”
The email continued: “Now it’s not for me to say anything Phil, but a quiet word in his ear would be a good idea.”
McGee wrote that his father had been cleared of 12 counts by the jury but convicted of misconduct, describing that verdict as “bloody rubbish”.
He lost his job at the maximum security Frankland Prison, where he had worked for 24 years, after he was convicted of perverting the course of justice following a trial in February.
A court heard that McGee Jnr sent the email as “a cry for help”.
Robin Patton, defending, said: “At the time he sent it he was overwhelmed with anxiety, there was no contact made with Mr Cockburn. It was a cry for help, when he was in a state of despair.
“The effect of the Operation Seabrook investigation was such that it caused his mother and sister to have mental breakdowns, and caused him to suffer personal strain and anxiety.
“During Operation Seabrook criminal proceedings, his father and other defendants had to be provided with protection going to court.”
Mr Patton added: “Despite the lockdown, members of the Medomsley Support Group felt it necessary to travel from Middlesbrough to Newcastle to stand outside court and abuse him today.
“But that’s nothing compared to the abuse he put up with, even though he was not a defendant, when he worked at HMP Frankland.
“It’s clear the effect of the investigation took a huge toll on his mental health.”
Judge James Adkin suspended a nine-month jail sentence for two years, imposed a 7pm to 7am curfew and ordered him to carry out 20 days of rehabilitation activity.
The court heard the defendant, now working as a delivery driver, was not considered a risk of committing similar offences.
Judge Adkin, sitting at Newcastle Crown Court, said: “The email was completely bizarre.
“I accept the argument that you were under considerable stress.
“You did something stupid, entirely out of character, and as a result you ruined your life.”
Deborah Smithies, prosecuting, said Mr Cockburn had felt a “sense of paranoia” about the email as he had been in a few near misses when cycling to work.
During his trial, McGee Jnr, from Burnopfield, County Durham, told jurors he wrote the email having gone through the upset of helping his father at his six-week trial and seeing him convicted.
He had not realised Mr Cockburn had not given evidence about his father – with whom the witness had never worked – and that his evidence was in fact about other defendants.