Tutor jailed for having relationship with inmate

A prison tutor jailed for 12 months for having an intimate relationship with an inmate was guilty of a "foolish infatuation", a judge has said.

Kelly Duffey, of Amesbury in Wiltshire, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court earlier over two charges of misconduct in a public office in connection with the affair with Ashley Goodridge, an inmate at HMP Erlestoke.

The 36-year-old had previously admitted having the relationship, which included a "sexual encounter", at a court hearing in February.

Goodridge, who is 38 and in jail for cannabis production, had his current prison sentence extended by 12 months after pleading guilty to having a phone and using it to send a photo to her.

Duffey had moved from teaching to working at category C men's HMP Erlestoke in May 2024, and her sexual relationship with Goodridge, originally from London, took place between July and September of that year.

The pair shared messages like "I love you" and photographs, the court heard.

During the investigation, police officers searched Goodridge's cell and found the mobile phone he had used to contact Duffey.

Judge Christopher Parker KC told Duffey said she had been "overwhelmed by a foolish infatuation".

He added: "As far as harm is concerned, you exposed yourself to the risk of blackmail, you exposed yourself to the risk of being coerced into committing security breaches, or smuggling equipment into prison.

"To your credit you did not breach security and you did not smuggle any articles into prison, even though you were invited to do so."

The court heard a statement from Duffey expressing regret about what she had done.

Goodridge, the sentencing hearing was told, had used his time in custody to train as a roofer and qualify in traffic management.

Andrew Eddy of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Duffey's actions amounted to a serious breach of that trust and fell well below the standards expected of prison staff."

South West Regional Organised Crime Unit counter corruption investigator PC Mark Paterson added: "She was in a position of trust as an education tutor, a key role in prisoner rehabilitation.

"She misconducted herself and neglected her duty over an extended period of time, which compromised the safety of other staff and inmates."

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