Prison officer spared jail for inmate relationship

A prison officer who had a romantic relationship with an inmate has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Rosie Smith, 28, was spared jail at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday having previously admitted misconduct in a public office over her months-long affar with Marli Casaletto, from Brighton, while she worked at HMP Rochester.

A court heard the pair exchanged around 300 phone calls between January and November 2023, as well as video calls, but were discovered when screenshots were found on Smith's phone.

Sentencing the pair, Judge Lee Harris said: "To say this was stupid is an understatement, it was much worse than that."

He added: "You both entered into this relationship with your eyes open... and knowing what you were doing was wrong."

The court heard how Casaletto, 32, used three different phones while inside the prison, which he switched around one after another.

In messages to the defendant's mother, she also said: "Obviously doesn't look great me saying he's in prison and not only does that look bad I also work there".

She also wrote: "Wish I never worked where I did and all of this wouldn't have been an issue."

Handwritten letters were found at Smith's home address, including some from the prisoner, and some written by her, in which she described him as the "love of my life" and said: "Cannot wait to see what our future holds together."

Smith received a 24-month suspended sentence, while Casaletto was given an eight month suspended sentence for unauthorised transmission of an image or sound by electric communication from within a prison.

Both Casaletto an Smith had pleaded guilty to the offences at earlier hearings.

Smith, of The Street, Pluckley, Ashford in Kent, was emotional in the dock throughout the sentencing hearing.

On deciding not to hand down immediate jail terms, Judge Harris said he had taken the "exceptional course for slightly different reasons for both of you".

Of Smith, he said: "You have no previous offending, I am confident on the report I've seen you won't offend again.

"There is very strong personal mitigation for you."

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