A 23-year-old ex-prison officer avoided jail for secretly dating a drug convict on home leave, violating rules by meeting him 175 miles away.

Megan Breen, a 23-year-old former prison officer at HMP Prescoed in Wales, avoided jail after admitting to having a sexual relationship with a convicted drug dealer during his home leave in 2022. She traveled 175 miles to meet him at a hotel, exchanged messages, and shared personal details, violating strict prison policies prohibiting romantic or sexual contact with inmates. The relationship was uncovered when she showed a photo of the inmate to a colleague. Though charged with misconduct and unauthorized computer access, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke suspended a 10-month prison sentence for 18 months, imposed £500 in costs, and ordered 15 days of rehabilitation. A second charge remains on file.