Former prison officer jailed for relationship with Dorset inmate

Rachel Martin, formerly of Salisbury in Wiltshire, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court today (Tuesday, February 28) for misconduct in a public office and encouraging the possession of a mobile phone in prison.

Her relationship with prisoner Raymond Abraham is said to have taken place between November 1, 2020 and March 8, 2021, during which time messages 'of an explicit nature' were sent and hundreds of phone calls made.

The 25-year-old, who was 23 at the time of the offences, who worked at HMP Guys Marsh near Shaftesbury, was also receiving 'large payments into her bank account' to fund shopping sprees and pay bills, the court heard.

Martin also admitted to supplying Abraham with high value designer clothes and footwear as well as female underwear - the latter of which was confiscated from his cell, as well as a mobile phone which she had given advice to him about disposing of if his cell was searched. 

The phone was later seized from Abraham's cell after Martin had told him to 'flush it' if his space was inspected.

Judge HHJ Climie told the court that 'immediate custody was required' for Martin in order to 'protect the prison service' after she had committed the offences in a 'position of authority and trust'.

She was warned at a previous hearing in October that she would be facing a 'significant custodial sentence' and admitted to having a relationship with Abraham.

In total, Martin, who burst into tears as the judge passed sentence, pleaded guilty to eight charges of misconduct in a public office and one charge of encouraging the possession of a mobile phone in prison.

She entered a not guilty plea to a charge of supplying Abraham with a mobile phone, and prosecutors suggested this would be allowed to lie on her file.

During the months Abraham had a phone she is accused of engaging with him over texts and did not report the fact that he had a phone and was also using it to communicate with other prisoners.

Jodie Mittell, prosecuting, told the court that the messages, mostly made via WhatsApp, saw the pair ''declaring their love for one another' and also involved images of Martin in 'various states of undress'.

Abraham, who was aged 40 at the time and has a 'significant criminal history', was also 'supporting the spending that she was exhibiting' as she blew thousands of pounds on clothes.

Hundreds of calls were also made between the pair, some lasting for more than an hour, with Ms Mittell calling these 'sexual digital communications' which even continued after she resigned from her role.

Claire Mawer, defending Martin, explained how her client had led to becoming involved with the inmate, saying she was a 'naive girl who lacked maturity' and had been going through problems in her dating and working life.

"It was a perfect storm of difficulties facing Ms Martin when it [the relationship] began," she said.

"It was contact that gave her happiness, saying 'I felt like someone finally liked me for who I was'.

"A much older man of a significant criminal history approached Ms Martin and initiated the contact. It was classic hallmarks [of grooming] with an older man targeting a younger woman."

Ms Mawer added that Martin, who has since become an estate agent and lives in London, had shown 'very clear remorse' for her actions and has a 'great sense of shame' about what she did, and was expecting a custody sentence.

"Given her background and quite remarkable life, it is the loss of her good character which is the greatest of the losses she suffers," the defence lawyer told the court.

Judge Climie said that he was confident Martin would 'never trouble a court room again' before he summarised, listing a number of mitigations favouring Martin, including the delay between the offences and her appearance in court, previous good character and remorse.

He said that he could not impose a suspended sentence as although Martin was groomed, she had experienced 'positive gain' from the relationship.