Prison worker jailed for ‘hotels and restaurants’ affair with drug dealer inmate

Heidi Bessant was sentenced to six months in prison for misconduct in public office

A prison worker who engaged in a six-month affair with an inmate, who was serving time for drug dealing, has now found herself behind bars.

Heidi Bessant, who served as an operational support grade at HMP Leyhill in Gloucestershire – a prison notorious for three inmates escaping – initiated the illicit relationship with the prisoner.

Bessant would accompany the convicted inmate on outings to restaurants and hotels during his day release, even managing his banking affairs.

The duo’s activities were exposed by detectives from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), who launched an investigation following suspicions about Bessant’s conduct.

Their probe revealed that Bessant had been romantically involved with an inmate who was serving a sentence in a category D prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and blackmail, reports the Manchester Evening News.

During her appearance at Bristol Crown Court, it was disclosed that the pair had exchanged numerous phone calls and text messages, with the inmate using a contraband mobile phone.

It was also discovered that Bessant had collected the man from the prison during his day release, returning him later the same day.

Bessant, a 38 year old resident of Wyebank Rise, Chepstow, admitted to misconduct in a public office and received a six-month prison sentence.

PC Mark Paterson, a corruption investigator at SWROCU, commented: “Bessant’s role as an operational support grade meant she had a duty to conduct herself in a responsible, respectable and trustworthy manner. Instead, her conduct amounted to a serious breach of trust.

“SWROCU will continue to work determinedly with the HMPPS counter corruption unit and the prisons in bringing to justice employees who engage in any form of criminal conduct; it simply will not be tolerated – they will be identified, investigated and prosecuted.”

The revelation follows a string of troubling episodes at HMP Leyhill, where three prisoners, one of whom was convicted of murder, absconded just weeks earlier. All three were subsequently recaptured and now face charges relating to escaping lawful custody.

Regardless of these concerns, plans are progressing to increase capacity at the facility through the installation of “rapid deployment cells” — prefabricated units constructed elsewhere before being transported to the existing prison site.