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Prison tutor jailed for relationship with inmate

Lewis AdamsEssex
Getty Images Close-up of a sign outside the prison. The top third has a white background, and in the middle, there is a blue box that reads 'HM Prison' in white, with a crown logo above it. The bottom two-thirds is black with the words 'Chelmsford' written in white. Getty Images
Melissa Murphy, formerly O'Brien, was a tutor at HMP Chelmsford in Essex

A prison tutor who wrote love letters to an inmate and was found "flustered" alone with him in a locked room has been jailed for eight months.

The letters written by Melissa Murphy (formerly O'Brien), 49, contained "explicit romantic and sexual content", Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

She admitted having an inappropriate relationship at HMP Chelmsford in Essex, where she trained prisoners on how to get employment after release.

Judge Jamie Sawyer said her actions had "eroded" confidence in the prison system.

Murphy also had a photo of the inmate at her home, the court was told.

She admitted writing love letters, which were found during a search of the prisoner's cell, and locking herself in a workshop with him, but denied any physical relationship.

Essex Police A picture of a man wearing a navy and black Nike tracksuit. He has taken the picture with a red phone aimed at a mirror. The picture is on a cabinet, leaning on beauty products.Essex Police
This photo of the inmate was found in Murphy's bedroom

Sawyer said on 8 December 2023, Murphy requested that the inmate be brought to a workshop, despite there being no scheduled class that day.

"This unusual request raised concern; You were later found alone with him in a locked room, appearing flustered when the door was opened," he said.

She was first employed by the prison in 2020 and was sacked after her arrest on 11 December 2023.

Murphy was charged in February 2025 and later admitted to misconduct in a public office.

'Corruption'

Sawyer continued: "Ms Murphy, your offending is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified.

"You held a position of trust within a prison and abused that trust by engaging in a romantic relationship with a prisoner, exposing yourself to corruption and undermining confidence in the prison system."

Prisoners leaning over a balcony inside the prison. Below them, an inmate is leaning on a blue table tennis table as a guard walks past.
Murphy was sacked from her job at the prison in December 2023

Correspondence from the inmate encouraging her to give him a SIM card so they could stay in touch, along with the card itself, was found in Murphy's house, the court heard.

The prosecution did not suggest a physical relationship had occurred, and Murphy also denied physical intimacy.

Jailing Murphy, Sawyer said the offending was an "isolated lapse", adding: "The victim here, and in my judgment, there is a victim, is the public.

"Confidence in the prison system is essential. And your actions have further eroded that confidence, particularly at HMP Chelmsford."

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