{"id":3639,"date":"2026-05-27T10:55:05","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T10:55:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/prison-officer-spared-jail-after-flirty-texts-with-inmate-and-vow-to-wear-gifted-heels-on-first-date\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T10:55:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T10:55:05","slug":"prison-officer-spared-jail-after-flirty-texts-with-inmate-and-vow-to-wear-gifted-heels-on-first-date","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/prison-officer-spared-jail-after-flirty-texts-with-inmate-and-vow-to-wear-gifted-heels-on-first-date\/","title":{"rendered":"Prison officer spared jail after flirty texts with inmate and vow to wear gifted heels &#8216;on first date&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_1c1e1b\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Prison officer Michaela Crawford sent flirty texts to prisoner Carl Catleugh about first dates, heels, perfume and plans for life after his release from HMP Deerbolt<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37210930\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Crawford\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210930.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Female-prison-officer-who-allowed-inmate-to-keep-secret-mobile-phone-so-they-could-communicate-on-Sn.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210930.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Female-prison-officer-who-allowed-inmate-to-keep-secret-mobile-phone-so-they-could-communicate-on-Sn.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210930.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Female-prison-officer-who-allowed-inmate-to-keep-secret-mobile-phone-so-they-could-communicate-on-Sn.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210930.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Female-prison-officer-who-allowed-inmate-to-keep-secret-mobile-phone-so-they-could-communicate-on-Sn.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Michaela Crawford sent texts to prisoner Carl Catleugh about first dates, heels, perfume and plans for life after his release\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Michaela Crawford sent texts to prisoner Carl Catleugh about first dates, heels, perfume and plans for life after his release<cite aria-label=\"Image: Handout\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Handout)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A prison officer has been spared jail after exchanging flirtatious messages with an inmate.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Michaela Crawford sent texts to prisoner Carl Catleugh about first dates, heels, perfume and plans for life after his release. The relationship came to light after an <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/iphone\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">iPhone<\/a> and charger, wrapped in a sock, were found during a search of his cell.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Durham Crown Court heard a string of illicit Snapchat and text messages between the pair were discovered on the device. In one, Catleugh wrote: &#8220;I obviously really like you..I do think we could make it work.&#8221; Crawford replied saying she wanted &#8220;to wear those heels and wear that perfume on the first date.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Catleugh also sent pictures from his cell at HMP Deerbolt, County Durham, where he was serving a 42-month sentence for possessing cocaine with intent to supply.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37210931\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37210931\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Crawford\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210931.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Female-prison-officer-who-allowed-inmate-to-keep-secret-mobile-phone-so-they-could-communicate-on-Sn.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210931.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Female-prison-officer-who-allowed-inmate-to-keep-secret-mobile-phone-so-they-could-communicate-on-Sn.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210931.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Female-prison-officer-who-allowed-inmate-to-keep-secret-mobile-phone-so-they-could-communicate-on-Sn.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210931.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Female-prison-officer-who-allowed-inmate-to-keep-secret-mobile-phone-so-they-could-communicate-on-Sn.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"She has now left the Prison Service\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">She has now left the Prison Service<cite aria-label=\"Image: Handout\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Handout)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Catleugh, now 32, admitted possessing a prohibited item in a prison and was handed an eight-month sentence suspended for 18 months, plus 120 hours of unpaid work. Crawford, 34, admitted a charge of misconduct in public office, between August 20 and 22, 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">At the hearing on Tuesday, Chris Baker, defending, conceded the case &#8220;clearly crosses the custody threshold by some distance&#8221;. But he said Crawford is of previous good character, made an early guilty plea, and described it as a breach of trust over &#8220;a relatively short period&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He added: &#8220;She has left the Prison Service and is assessed in the probation report as posing a low risk of re-offending. It&#8217;s clear from the references uploaded that she&#8217;s a person who commands a great deal of respect in the community. She&#8217;s industrious and hard-working.&#8221; Baker said she had suffered with depression and anxiety, but they have alleviated since the left the prison service.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37210447\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37210447\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Blonde woman wearing blue stripe shirt\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210447.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_PAY-PRISON_OFFICER_FLIRT_1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210447.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_PAY-PRISON_OFFICER_FLIRT_1.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210447.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_PAY-PRISON_OFFICER_FLIRT_1.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210447.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_PAY-PRISON_OFFICER_FLIRT_1.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Michaela Crawford was spared jail\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Michaela Crawford was spared jail<cite aria-label=\"Image: North News &amp; Pictures Ltd\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: North News &amp; Pictures Ltd)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Judge Mark McKone told Crawford that as a prison officer, &#8220;a great deal of trust was placed in you,&#8221; adding: &#8220;Yet, you allowed a prisoner to keep and use a phone on which you discussed a first date, and in some messages you referred to you risking losing your job and going to jail. You knew how dangerous it was to allow a prisoner to have a phone.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">McKone added there was no evidence of the defendant smuggling the phone in for the inmate, otherwise she would definitely be going straight to prison. He continued: &#8220;It&#8217;s very sad you put your own romantic interest in a criminal above doing your job. You won&#8217;t work as a prison officer again. But, I accept you are hard-working and a good mother.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37210478\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37210478\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.61\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Prison building\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210478.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Screenshot-2026-01-21-at-081336.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210478.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Screenshot-2026-01-21-at-081336.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210478.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Screenshot-2026-01-21-at-081336.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37210478.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Screenshot-2026-01-21-at-081336.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\" Catleugh was serving time at  HMP Deerbolt in County Durham\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\"> Catleugh was serving time at  HMP Deerbolt in County Durham<cite aria-label=\"Image: Google Maps \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Google Maps )<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Passing a 12-month suspended sentence, Mckone said Crawford was capable of rehabilitation and unlikely to re-offend. He said she has her own business and lives alone with a young son, who has &#8220;his own issues&#8221;. Crawford must perform 200 hours of unpaid work and pay \u00a3150 by September 1.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/prison-officer-michaela-crawford-texts-37210399\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prison officer Michaela Crawford sent flirty texts to prisoner Carl Catleugh about first dates, heels,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3640,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_Female-prison-officer-who-allowed-inmate-to-keep-secret-mobile-phone-so-they-could-communicate-on.avif","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3639","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3639"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3639\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}