A former prison officer who had an inappropriate relationship with an inmate has been sentenced to 21 months in jail after being found guilty of misconduct in a public office. Katie Evans, 26, from Hatfield, South Yorkshire, admitted to an 'intimate' relationship with convicted burglar Daniel Brownley while working at HMP Doncaster. Evans, a mother-of-one, not only communicated with Brownley extensively using a smuggled SIM card but also performed a sex act on him and referred to herself as his ‘queen’ during their exchanges.

Phone records revealed that Evans contacted Brownley 140 times using the illicit SIM card, with some conversations lasting nearly an hour. On one occasion, she had 39 conversations with him in a single day. During sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court, Judge Jeremy Richardson, KC, emphasised the severity of Evans' betrayal, stating: “There must be a prison sentence. Corrupt prison officers must be punished. The public expects accountability from those who breach their duty in such a manner.”

The judge highlighted that Evans’ misconduct directly impacted the order and discipline within the prison. He noted that she not only engaged in a sexual relationship with Brownley but also handled money on his behalf and shared confidential prison information with him. Although Evans was not responsible for smuggling the SIM card into the prison, her continued communication with Brownley demonstrated a clear violation of professional conduct. Additionally, she boasted to a former colleague about her relationship with the inmate, further incriminating herself.

Edward Moss, defending Evans, described her as “immature and vulnerable” at the time of the offences. He argued that she had been manipulated by Brownley and was deeply ashamed of her actions. However, Judge Richardson remained firm, stating that while her youth and inexperience were taken into account, they did not excuse her behaviour. As an ‘act of mercy,’ her sentence was reduced from two years to 21 months, considering her responsibilities as a mother to a young child.