A prison tutor has been jailed after admitting having an intimate relationship with an inmate, which was described as a 'foolish infatuation' by a judge. 

Kelly Duffey, 36, was sentenced to 12 months in prison over two charges of misconduct in public office in connection with the affair with Ashley Goodridge at HMP Erlestoke. 

The 38-year-old prisoner, who is serving a lengthy IPP sentence for cannabis production, was also handed a 12-month prison sentence to run concurrently after pleading guilty to having a phone and using it to send a photo from the category C men's prison. 

Winchester Crown Court court heard Duffey moved from full-time teaching work to assist at the Wiltshire jail's education department in May 2024, and had an intimate relationship with Goodridge between July and September of that year. 

A previous court hearing was told the relationship involved kissing and one 'physical sexual encounter.'

Duffey also knew of another member of staff, a librarian, working at the prison who had an intimate relationship with another prisoner. 

Messages like 'I love you' and photos were exchanged between the pair, the court heard. Duffey, of Amesbury, Wiltshire, also messaged a friend on August 20 reading: 'Definitely done something this morning I shouldn't have.' 

She also told her friend of speaking to the librarian of her affair who told her where they go and that they had nearly been caught before, adding: 'Talked about an hour about it, giggling like school girls lol.'

Judge Christopher Parker KC told Duffey that as a woman in her mid-30s, she appeared to be 'overwhelmed by a foolish infatuation'. 

He added: 'In your correspondence with your friend outside prison it is plain you knew the risks, you knew of the dangers, you knew what you were doing was wrong.

'As far as harm is concerned you exposed yourself to the risk of blackmail, you exposed yourself to the risk of being coerced into committing security breaches, or smuggling equipment into prison. 

'To your credit you did not breach security and you did not smuggle any articles into prison even though you were invited to do so.' 

The judge added that Duffey's attachment to Goodridge 'in hindsight appears to be rather one-sided', but 'was heartfelt and strongly binding as far as you were concerned'. 

The court also heard on Duffey's behalf that she expressed regret and is very candid about mistakes she has made. 

For Goodridge, it was heard he has used his time in custody well, training as a roofer, qualified in traffic management and will be in a position to work gainfully when released from prison, where he has served 'much longer than ever envisaged for a relatively unserious offence', his barrister said. 

Duffey's misconduct came to light after a family member raised concerns.  She was immediately barred from all prison estates and resigned the following day.

Andrew Eddy, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'Those working in prisons are trusted to uphold strict professional boundaries between themselves and inmates.

'Duffey's actions amounted to a serious breach of that trust and fell well below the standards expected of prison staff.' 

PC Mark Paterson, an investigator at the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: 'The conduct displayed by Kelly Duffey will not be tolerated within a prison estate. 

'She may not have been a prison officer or directly employed by HMPPS, but she was in a position of trust as an education tutor, a key role in prisoner rehabilitation. 

'She misconducted herself and neglected her duty over an extended period of time, which compromised the safety of other staff and inmates. 

'The SWROCU Counter Corruption Unit will continue to work alongside HMPPS and the CPS to bring to justice anyone working within the prison estate who commits criminal acts.'