‘Flirty’ prison officer had lag’s phone number tattooed on her leg

A prison officer had an inmate's phone number tattooed on her leg after a "flirty" relationship.

Scarlett Aldrich, 22, began the relationship with the lag during workshop hours, where the two would spend time talking together.

It was discovered that she had smuggled a phone and SIM card, both banned items, into HMP Full Sutton.

The phone was discovered in the inmate’s bottom after their relationship was discovered, HullLive reports.

Officers also found love letters from Aldrich in the inmate's cell, and also discovered that she had had the prisoner’s phone number tattooed on her inner thigh.

The relationship was first suspected after the pair were seen spending a lot of time talking together during workshop hours at the prison.

Prosecutor Ayman Khokar told Hull Crown Court: “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.

“These visits became more frequent and other prisoners commented on the closeness between the two.”

He added: “She was warned about what her behaviour looked like, but the defendant returned to the workshop and chatted with the prisoner.”

The visits became increasingly frequent, and lasted for longer, around two hours each when he was there.

A search was conducted of the inmate’s cell after concerns were raised about a relationship between the pair.

A text message found on the phone from 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 from the following day said: “At my mums. I’m not ignoring you. I have got you a voucher.”

Aldrich was suspended from her job as a prison officer on September 18, 2019, pending an investigation. She later admitted that the relationship began after she had got into an argument with her partner at the time.

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“She had a cut on her face,” said mitigating barrister Susanna Proctor. “He was providing comfort towards her and that led to the relationship she is now in court for.”

Prosecutor Mr. Khokar said: “She explained she had been vulnerable due to her partner assaulting her which left a mark. Jones noticed the mark. He contacted her and made threats towards her partner. She admitted she brought in the mobile phone and sim card.

“She was then asked by the prisoner to hold onto £5,000 at her home which would be collected by a gentleman nicknamed Ginger Scouser. She became concerned and blocked the prisoner’s number.”

When interviewed by police Aldrich initially denied the relationship with the prisoner, claiming that he had called her home and threatened her family.

“There had been subsequent telephone calls between Jones and the defendant,” said Mr Khokar.

“The calls were facilitated by the prisoner calling his mum who would use the prisoner’s father’s phone to call the defendant.”

But a letter addressed to the inmate was later intercepted which contained a photo of his phone number tattooed on her thigh. The tattoo was later confirmed by police to be on Aldrich’s body.

Aldrich pleaded guilty to misconduct in a judicial or public office, and conveying a list B article, the sim card and mobile phone, into prison. She appeared at Hull Crown Court on Friday April 9 to be sentenced.

It was also confirmed that there had been no sexual activity between the two, and Aldrich had not had contact with him in his cell.

“She brought the phone in so he could contact her,” said Ms Proctor. “She understands that this man was not interested in her at all and was just using her to obtain that mobile phone.”

Ms Proctor added: “She was vulnerable at the time and struggled with her mental health for a number of years.

“With her mental state and vulnerability at that time one wonders if she should have been in that job in the first place. She was very young.”

Aldrich will be sentenced on April 14.

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