Megan Breen, a 21-year-old prison officer has appeared in court over the two charges relating to her time working at prisons in Gwent, South Wales.
Breen who has been charged with misconduct in public office over an alleged affair with an inmate, denied having a relationship with the unnamed person across two jails.
It was alleged that she was working at HMP Usk, a category C prison, and open prison HMP Prescoed when the affair began. Appearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday, January 10, she denied charges of misconduct and illegally accessing a computer.
The first charge read;
“While acting as a public officer, namely a prison officer, wilfully and without reasonable excuse or justification misconducted yourself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust in the office holder by having a relationship with a prisoner.”
The second charge related to allegedly accessing a computer she wasn’t authorised to use to access data or a programme. The alleged offences reportedly took place between February and May 2022.
Breen spoke only to enter not guilty pleas during the short hearing at the court and the case was adjourned. Judge, Recorder of Cardiff Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, said the trial would take place in November this year.
Category C prison Usk houses 280 inmates and is managed jointly with open prison HMP Prescoed which is three miles away and houses offenders serving the final term of their sentences before being released.