Linda De Sousa Abreu, a 31-year-old prison officer, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for engaging in sexual activity with an inmate at HMP Wandsworth in London. The incident, which was filmed by another prisoner, took place on June 25, 2024, and lasted nearly five minutes. The footage later went viral on social media, leading to De Sousa Abreu’s identification and arrest at Heathrow Airport on June 28, 2024, as she attempted to flee to Madrid. She had informed the prison that she would not be returning to work.

De Sousa Abreu pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office in July 2024. At her sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday, Judge Martin Edmunds KC condemned her actions as “immensely serious” and emphasized that her behavior compromised her role as a prison officer and undermined discipline within the prison.

The court heard that De Sousa Abreu had a history of mental health issues and trauma. She had consented to the sexual activity and allowed another inmate to film the encounter. The video was subsequently shared online without her consent, causing significant repercussions. Judge Edmunds noted that De Sousa Abreu participated in the act with “evident enthusiasm” and had engaged in similar activity with the same inmate earlier that day and on a prior occasion.

The fallout from the incident was far-reaching, with female officers at HMP Wandsworth reporting increased harassment and abuse from prisoners after the video’s release. Some officers’ children were also teased about their parents’ professions. Judge Edmunds stated that the damage caused by her actions had spread throughout the prison system.

De Sousa Abreu’s sentence includes serving half the time in custody, with the remainder on licence. She also received a 95-day reduction due to wearing an electronic tag for 190 days.

A spokesperson for the Prison Service condemned the incident, stating that it undermined the integrity of the system but emphasized the commitment to hold accountable those who break the rules.

Tetteh Turkson of the Crown Prosecution Service called De Sousa Abreu’s actions “a shocking breach of the public’s trust” and pointed out that she had wrongly believed she would avoid responsibility.