A 26-year-old Berwyn Prison officer, Cally White, received a nine-month suspended sentence for unauthorized data access. The Mold Crown Court heard she accessed inmate files over 100 times without a legitimate reason.
Over 100 unauthorized database searches for Hamid and Blackburn
Cally White, a former employee at Berwyn Prison near Wrexham, North Wales, used the facility's computer system to repeatedly monitor the records of two specific inmates. According to the Mold Crown Court proceedings, White accessed the database more than one hundred times to track the movements and details of Ryan Hamid and his associate, David Blackburn.
The scale of the breach was significant. Prosecutor Karl Scholz informed the court that White checked Hamid’s prison record approximately sixty times, viewing sensitive information such as his personal details, offense history, case notes, and release dates. Additionally, she accessed Blackburn’s records forty-four times, which included an adjudication record following an incident where Blackburn and a cellmate were found with illicit items, including an iPhone.
The "Sophie Wright" alias and the breach of trust
The investigation into White's conduct revealed a calculated attempt to maintain contact with inmates under false pretenses. As the report details, White used the alias "Sophie Wright" to remain in phone contact with Ryan Hamid, even after he was recalled to prison in September 2024. She was even placed on Hamid's list of permitted contacts while using this pseudonym.
During recorded telephone calls, White and Hamid discussed sensitive internal matters, including her work shift patterns and the activities of other prisoners. Most concerningly, the calls included discussions regarding other prison staff, including the head of corruption prevention. white also reportedly implied that she was using her professional access to provide updates on Blackburn's status.
Berwyn Prison’s reputation as "Britain's cushiest prison"
This incident is not an isolated case of misconduct but part of a broader,troubling trend at Berwyn Prison. The facility has gained notoriety for a series of inappropriate relationships between female guards and inmates, leading some to label it "Britain's cushiest prison." The pattern of boundary-crossing has become a recurring issue for the North Wales facility.
The seriousness of the culture at Berwyn is underscored by the fact that several female prison guards have been sentenced in recent years for inappropriate behavior involving inmates . At least three of these individuals have received actual jail sentences, suggesting that the prison service is struggling to maintain discipline and integrity among its staff at this specific location.
Disputed claims regarding romantic ties and bank transfers
While White pleaded guilty to unauthorized access, several key aspects of her involvement remain unverified or contested. the prosecution did not accept White's assertion that she was not in a romantic relationship with Ryan Hamid. This remains a central point of contention in the narrative of her motivations.
Furthermore, the court heard conflicting accounts regarding financial transactions. White claimed that money deposited into her bank account did not originate from either Blackburn or Hamid, but the prosecution has not accepted this explanation. These unanswered questions regarding the nature of her relationship and the source of her funds leave a shadow over her claim of mere "naivety."
A nine-month suspended sentence for a criminology graduate
Recorder John Philpotts handed White a nine-month suspended prison term, alongside 200 hours of community service and ten days of rehabilitation. The judge described her actions as "extremely foolish" and noted that she should have been beyond reproach,emphasizing that corruption undermines the entire fabric of prison work. he also criticized her use of a false name as both dishonest and stupid.
Defense lawyer Maria Masselis argued that White, a highly educated woman with a master's degree and a degree in criminology, acted out of an enormous level of naivety. While White's parents were present in court to support her, the legal consequences are permanent. Although she avoided immediate imprisonment by the narrowest of margins, her career in the prison service is effectively over.
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