A former prison officer named Katie Evans has been sentenced to incarceration for 21 months after admitting misconduct involving an inappropriate relationship with an inmate. During a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court, Evans, aged 26, was described by Judge Jeremy Richardson KC as having been manipulated by a seasoned criminal. At the time of the events, Evans was a young officer just beginning her career at Doncaster Prison, in South Yorkshire.
The court proceedings revealed that Evans, who is a mother of one, entered into an intimate connection with prisoner Daniel Brownley. She engaged in over 140 unauthorized phone conversations with him, facilitated financial transfers for him, and also shared confidential prison information during their period of contact. Notably, Evans had boasted to another former prison officer about performing oral sex on Brownley, and she notably referred to herself as Brownley's "queen" in their conversations.
In handing down the sentence, Judge Richardson said he was convinced Evans was genuinely remorseful and represented no ongoing danger to the public. Nonetheless, he emphasized that her actions significantly disrupted prison discipline and order, making immediate prison time unavoidable. Though acknowledging her youth and inexperience as factors that made her susceptible to manipulation by Brownley, the judge emphasized that neither trait provided justification for her breach of conduct.
Judge Richardson stated the sentence ordinarily should have been longer. However, he chose to reduce the jail term as an "act of mercy," taking into account the negative consequences prison would have on Evans' relationship with her young daughter and the potential difficulties she would experience behind bars as a former prison officer. Despite these mitigating factors, the severity of her misconduct required a custodial sentence.
As Evans was escorted from the courtroom, visibly distressed, she waved tearfully to her family members who sat in the gallery. Brownley, the inmate at the heart of Evans' misconduct, previously faced imprisonment due to serious offenses including attempted robbery and burglary. Though initially released, he had returned to prison in 2020 for violating the terms of his earlier release.
7 Comments
Karamba
She's no better than a criminal herself. She broke the law and deserves to be punished like anyone else.
Matzomaster
Her actions have put other officers in danger. Now they have to be extra cautious and constantly on guard.
Rotfront
This is what happens when you hire young and inexperienced officers. They're easily manipulated and put everyone in danger.
Matzomaster
She had a young child? That's no excuse! She should have thought about the consequences before she acted.
Rotfront
This is a disgrace to the prison system. They need to do a better job of screening and training their officers.
Africa
She's clearly remorseful and shouldn't be judged too harshly. Everyone makes mistakes.
Muchacho
21 months is a slap on the wrist! She should have received the full sentence, no matter her personal circumstances.