Probation officer spared jail after hiding romantic relationship with prisoner

A probation officer who concealed her romantic relationship with an inmate when applying for her job at HMP Preston has been handed a suspended prison sentence for misconduct in public office.

Leonie Wilkinson, 27, failed to declare any conflict of interest during her recruitment or vetting process, despite having been in a relationship with prisoner Gary Hampson since 2018. The connection came to light after officers found a mobile phone in Hampson’s cell containing records of calls, emails, and messages between the pair.

Wilkinson, from Preston, admitted misconduct in public office, unauthorized access to a computer, and encouraging the possession of a mobile device. She was sentenced at Preston Crown Court to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Hampson, 26, received an additional six months to be served consecutively to his current sentence after admitting to encouraging misconduct and possessing an illicit mobile phone.

Detective Inspector Brian Morley of the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) described Wilkinson’s actions as “a serious breach of trust” that undermined the criminal justice system.

Investigators discovered that Wilkinson began working at the prison in 2020, with her vetting delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. By then, she had completed her training but still failed to disclose her ties to Hampson. Although she later told her manager she knew him and one of his relatives, records showed no formal conflict-of-interest declaration had been made.

In April 2021, allegations emerged of a corrupt officer smuggling contraband into the facility. Subsequent inquiries revealed Wilkinson had visited Hampson in prison years earlier and maintained a relationship with him while on staff. She was also listed as a friend of two other inmates.

Evidence from Hampson’s seized phone, along with an online card sent by Wilkinson, confirmed the relationship, leading to their prosecution.