A prison officer has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for engaging in sexual activity with an inmate in a cell at HMP Wandsworth, south London.
Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, from Fulham, was charged after a video of the incident was shared on social media. The mother-of-one pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office at Isleworth Crown Court in July last year.
Incident and investigation
The offence occurred on June 25, 2024, when De Sousa Abreu consented to sexual activity with inmate Linton Weirich inside a cell at Wandsworth. A second prisoner was also present, filming the act while appearing to smoke cannabis. The video was later shared online, sparking outrage and a police investigation.
De Sousa Abreu was arrested at Heathrow Airport as she attempted to travel to Madrid and later Madeira to escape the fallout. She had notified the prison of her travel plans but was detained before departing.
Appearing in court on Monday, wearing a grey suit and white shirt, De Sousa Abreu was told she would serve half her sentence in custody, with the remainder on licence. She was also granted a reduction of 95 days, reflecting the time she had spent wearing an electronic tag.
Judge’s sentencing remarks
During sentencing, Judge Martin Edmunds KC condemned De Sousa Abreu’s actions, stating:
“You engaged in sexual activity with a prisoner. That compromised your role as an officer, and was misconduct which undermines discipline within the prison, and puts fellow officers at increased risk.
“You knew that conduct was forbidden and forbidden for good reason.”
The court heard that De Sousa Abreu had a history of poor mental health and trauma, which was taken into consideration during sentencing.
Wider impacts
The consequences of the video going viral were highlighted in victim impact statements from members of the Prison Service. Female officers at HMP Wandsworth have since faced harassment, sexualised taunts, and inappropriate advances from inmates, with some reporting that their children had been teased at school.
Judge Edmunds remarked:
“The damage for which you were responsible has spread through the prison estate. Your conduct has falsely suggested that such behaviour is typical, subjecting female officers to ridicule and harassment.”
Prison service response
A spokesperson for the Prison Service condemned De Sousa Abreu’s actions, noting the efforts being made to address corruption within the system:
“While the overwhelming majority of Prison Service staff are hardworking and honest, we’re catching more of the small minority who break the rules by bolstering our Counter Corruption Unit and strengthening our vetting processes.
“As today’s sentencing demonstrates, where officers do fall below our high standards we won’t hesitate to take robust action.”
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Legal and ethical breach
De Sousa Abreu’s charge stated she “wilfully and without reasonable excuse or justification misconducted herself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust in the office holder by engaging in a sexual act with a prisoner in a prison cell.”
Her decision to flee the country further compounded her misconduct, with Judge Edmunds observing:
“From what I know about you, you were certainly not naive about the media or social media. It must have been obvious that the recording would be shown around and shared, at least amongst prisoners at Wandsworth where it would do the most harm.”
Conclusion
The case has highlighted the damaging ripple effects of such misconduct, not only on the individual officers involved but on the wider prison system. While efforts are underway to strengthen oversight and accountability, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining professional integrity within public service roles.
Linda De Sousa Abreu will now serve her sentence, facing the consequences of an act that has left a significant impact on her colleagues and the broader prison community.
