'Infatuated' female officer in UK had sex with prisoner in his cell

A UK female prison officer has been sentenced to two years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a prisoner.

Donna Stanton, 28, began a sexual relationship with heroin addict Eric Fitzgerald while he was serving the last few months of a seven-year sentence at Bedford prison.

Luton Crown Court heard how she smuggled a mobile phone into his cell, which was against prison rules, and after his release their affair continued.

She lavished gifts and money on him and even gave him a car to use on his release.

But when the relationship turned sour, Stanton falsely accused Fitzgerald of blackmailing her, which led to his arrest and her subsequent trial.

"There is a saying isn't there that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and that is what this case is about," the Daily Mail quoted Prosecutor Laura Blackband as saying.

Stanton has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to giving a mobile phone to a prisoner and doing acts tending to pervert the course of public justice.

Sentencing, Judge John Bevan QC said the former prison officer had abused her position of trust.

"You are of good character, or you were of good character," he said.

"You allowed yourself to become infatuated and involved with a criminal with a serious record.

"You lavished presents on him, you accepted that he was a drug user and when it broke down, it inevitably all went to pieces.

"You were given a position of trust within the prison service. You were trusted to protect the interests of the public, other prisoners and your fellow officers.

"You have brought shame on yourself by grossly abusing that trust, falling for a long-term prisoner," he added.

The court heard Stanton became 'infatuated' with Fitzgerald in 2008 when he was moved to Bedford Prison, where she had worked for four years.

Stanton also pleaded not guilty to two counts of misconduct in a public office, which were ordered to lie on her record.