An Accrington woman working at HMP Kirkham and an inmate wrote letters expressing their love for each other and discussed their plans for the future. 

Preston Crown Court heard how on April 5, 2018, Dean Holmes was sentenced to 10 years for an aggravated burglary offence at Chester Crown Court.

He served the latter part of his sentence at HMP Kirkham where, since November 4, 2019, Cheryl Hindle has been employed in a role where she supported and advised inmates on employment, education, and careers upon their release.

Hindle, 44, had been advising Holmes, 30, since his arrival at Kirkham, where he was an inmate between September 2021 and May 2022.

Concerns were raised within the prison that Hindle had been acting inappropriately towards Holmes, with staff noticing she had been spending more time with him and staying late for no legitimate reason.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said in preparation for his release Holmes was booked to take an employment-related exam at a test centre approximately 20 miles from the prison, on May 13, 2022.

Hindle’s manager asked her to arrange for a prison driver, but a rail release was granted instead with one unavailable. However, it soon transpired that Hindle had taken Holmes to the examination herself in her own vehicle.

Analysis of Hindle’s work phone showed they had travelled to the exam centre for Holmes to complete the test before then travelling along the M65 to Accrington, where they remained for around an hour and a half.

Mr Parker said Hindle accepted they were in an address in Accrington together.

Due to the concerns about inappropriate contact between the pair, Holmes was transferred to HMP Lancaster Farms on May 19, 2022.

Four days later, Holmes added Hindle’s personal mobile phone number to a list of contacts he could call on the prison phone system, stating she was a friend.

One of the calls showed evidence that they had been together on a previous occasion, with Holmes telling Hindle that he had liked the design of her mother’s house.

Hindle told Holmes it would be ‘their future house.’

Between May 23 and June 11 of the same year, there were 25 phone calls between the pair totalling around four hours.

On June 6, 2022, Hindle visited Lancaster Farms with no legitimate reason to do so and no authorisation to do so.

Holmes also requested for Hindle to check his prison file on the computer system.

On June 13, 2022 she was suspended from HMP Kirkham and when her belongings were searched, letters between the two were found where they expressed their love for each other.

Hindle made admissions in police interview and accepted she had “made mistakes.”

She said she wasn’t thinking straight, was “going through a lot” and was “quite vulnerable.”

Holmes was interviewed on November 24, 2022, and answered no comment.

James Sullivan, mitigating for Hindle, said his client has worked hard “to improve her lot” and was a “valued member of the prison service” which made her offending “all the more inexplicable.”

He said Hindle maintains having been unable to obtain a prison driver and a rail warrant was obtained but was not allowed to be used.

Hindle, of Sultan Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to one count of wilfully neglecting to perform duty.

Kevin Liston, for Holmes, said his client had no “physical input” into the logistics of the car journey but did nothing to oppose what was being suggested.

He said the interest from Hindle had flattered him and “offered a distraction from the prison regime.”

Holmes, of Hedge Hey, Runcorn, pleaded guilty to one count of encouraging or assisting in the commission of an indictable-only offence.

Due to the court running out of time, sentencing for Hindle and Holmes was adjourned to October 16.