A female prison guard has been accused of having an affair with an inmate at a correctional facility in the United Kingdom. The guard, Katerina Tatus, was suspended after the allegations of her engaging in an inappropriate relationship at the prison came to light.
After working at HMP Feltham near London for three years, Tatus finds herself in the centre of a severe scandal after a fellow staff member reported her suspicious behaviour. The report led to the custodial manager launching an internal investigation.
According to the New York Post, sources close to the investigation noted that Tatus was once regarded as a popular and well-respected figure among both staff and inmates. However, her reported behaviour with the inmate may have compromised her role.
“Katerina is a pretty girl and was popular with staff and inmates. If she has done what she is accused of, though, she has ruined her career,” the source told NYP. The source also told NYP that the officials are concerned about any misconduct that undermines the integrity of the entire institution.
The officials are currently working hard to prevent it from being a recurring issue, saying, ‘“Bosses are really worried about misconduct and corruption, especially after recent cases, so are doing their best to clamp down on it,” the source said, per the report. The scandal has rocked the facility and raised concerns regarding professional boundaries at correctional facilities.
This case is not an isolated incident, as a similar scandal erupted months ago at a British prison. Another female prison guard was caught on camera having sex with an inmate in his cell. The guard’s inappropriate relationship with the inmate sparked outrage after it started circulating on the internet. The incident was filmed by another inmate and was reported to be a repeated offence. The guard was sentenced to 15 months in prison.