Prison guard who had an affair with inmate is spared jail

A prison guard at HMP Five Wells avoided jail having a romantic relationship with an inmate. Rachel Stanton, 31, avoided being sent to prison when she became involved with Edwin Poole, who was serving a sentence of 10 and a half years for violent armed robberies.

Their affair was discovered in July 2022 when security cameras caught Stanton and Poole spending a suspiciously long time - about an hour - alone together in a storage room. Upon discovery, the mother of five was suspended from her job, and Poole was transferred to another prison. However, their relationship persisted, and Stanton continued to visit Poole at his new location. The couple also had a child together but have since ended their relationship.

Judge David Herbert KC, presiding over the case, stated last week, "You should have known better. Your offending is so serious it demands a custodial sentence." He emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that Stanton's actions went beyond a lack of training and basic understanding of professional boundaries.

Evidence presented in court included a sexually explicit letter and intimate images of Stanton. The judge confirmed that the relationship appeared to be "entirely consensual." 

Despite the serious nature of the offense, Judge Herbert warned her, "If you can stay out of trouble you have nothing to fear, but it will be hanging over your head – work hard at the order."