Prison librarian’s knickers waved around on wing ‘like a trophy’ by inmate lover
A married prison librarian whose knickers were paraded on a wing ‘like a trophy’ during a sexual relationship with an inmate has been spared jail.
Sharon Mawdsley, 47, swapped steamy text messages and had sex with Steven Morrell in the library office at HMP Kirkham.
But their two-week affair was rumbled when staff member Sarah Fleming heard whispers among inmates and reported her concerns.
Preston Crown Court heard that after the prisoner had sex with the mum-of-two he showed off her underwear to roughly 20 other inmates at the open prison.
Mawdsley, from Blackpool, was previously found not guilty of six counts of sexual assault involving two other inmates – where the jury heard she ‘acted like an animal’.
It was during that trial she confessed she had sex with Morrell.
She pleaded guilty to a single charge of misconduct in a public office, for which she was given a nine-month sentence suspended for a year.
The court heard Mawdsley was working at HMP Kirkham as a part-time library assistant when she met the man and started up the affair.
Mawdsley told her barrister Stephen Parkinson: ‘I found him attractive. We just started talking and flirting . It was stupid.’
Wayne Jackson, prosecuting, said Mawdsley was employed 10 hours a week at HMP Kirkham. She had received anti-corruption training and had been vetted for the role.
On July 6, 2018, Mawdsley was told she should not return to work, and Morrell was transferred to another prison.
His cell was searched and a secret iPhone was found hidden in a laundry bag – along with a piece of paper with Mawdsley’s personal phone number scrawled on it.
Defending, Anthony Parkinson, said Mawdsley has ‘an impeccable past history – apart from these two weeks of madness in the Summer of 2018’.
He added the defendant has faced a lengthy delay and public humiliation as a result of the media coverage the case has attracted.
Mr Parkinson said Mawdsley has now separated from her husband, however he wrote a letter to the court in support of his ex-wife.
Mawdsley was also ordered to complete 15 days rehabilitation activity requirements and 200 hours of unpaid work.
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