Three prison wardens 'had sex with nine female inmates in jail'

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Updated:

Three male prison officers have appeared in court to deny having sex with inmates at the women's jail where they worked.

Russell Thorne, Simon Dykes and Christopher Bevan are accused of being intimately involved with the female prisoners.

Between them they are charged with 10 separate offences.

Prison officers Russell Thorne (left) and Christopher Bevan are accused of having sex with female prisoners whilst on duty
Prison officer Simon Dykes is accused of having sex with female prisoners whilst on duty

Prison officers (left to right) Russell Thorne, Christopher Bevan and Simon Dykes deny having sex with inmates at the women's jail where they worked

The trio yesterday stood side-by-side in the dock, speaking only to confirm their names and state "not guilty" as each of the allegations was put to them.

Thorne, aged 41, denied two counts of misconduct in public office, involving having sex with inmates, one claimed to be between July 1, 2006 and February 25, 2010 and the other between May 21, 2008 and February 25, 2010.

Dykes, aged 45, denied six counts of the same offence.

The charges against him were spread between July 10, 2006 and February 25, 2010.

Bevan, aged 35, denied two counts of misconduct in public office between March 6, 2009 and February 25, 2010.

The judge ordered that none of the nine alleged victims should be named at the hearing, at Guildford Crown Court, Surrey, ahead of a possible application by the prosecution to ban any reporting of their identities during the trial.

Ian Acheson said the offences were all alleged to have taken place at HMP Downview, a women's prison in Sutton, Surrey.

The three men have been suspended from their jobs at Downview prison in Sutton, Surrey

The three men have been suspended from their jobs at Downview prison in Sutton, Surrey

All three defendants have been suspended from duty while the criminal proceedings continue.

Judge Neil Stewart told the trio: "Your trial is going to be on June 6. You are all on bail meanwhile, subject to the same conditions you have been up to now." 

They were told they must not contact, directly or indirectly, any inmates or former inmates of the prison, or any employees of HM Prison Service, except through Downview's Governor, Louise Spencer.

An exception was made for Bevan, from Sutton, whose partner Jenny Gorman is also a prison officer.

Thorne also lives in Sutton while Dykes comes from Westcott near Dorking.

The trial, also to be held at Guildford, is expected to last from four to six weeks.

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