Glamorous bikini model-turned-prison guard, 33, who had a sexual relationship with an inmate has her conviction OVERTURNED on appeal
- Model turned prison guard escaped conviction for relationship with a prisoner
- Tara Brooks was dismissed from her role after the relationship was uncovered
- She was convicted in June before having conviction quashed on appeal
A former bikini model turned prison guard who engaged in a sexual relationship with a prisoner before being charged in February has escaped conviction.
In February, Parklea Correction Centre prison officer Tara Brooks, 33, was dismissed after prison management were made aware of her ‘inappropriate relationship’ with Hassan Zreika, a 41-year-old male inmate.
Ms Brooks was charged by police with engaging in a relationship with an inmate and causing a safety risk to the correctional centre and was convicted in April.
Former bikini model turned prison guard Tara Brooks (pictured) who engaged in a sexual relationship with a prisoner before being charged in February has escaped conviction
Brooks, 33, (pictured) was dismissed after prison management were made aware of her ‘inappropriate relationship’ with Hassan Zreika, a 41-year-old male inmate
She was put on a two-year good behaviour bond and lost her job with NSW corrections.
However her legal team appealed the sentence in the Parramatta District Court on Wednesday arguing she had undergone undue stress and ‘serious’ consequences from media coverage of the case.
Judge Norman Delaney accepted the defence that Brooks had been subject to ‘extra punishment’ as a result of the media coverage, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Judge Delaney described the coverage as ‘quite appalling but not unusual’.
Brooks’ sentence was amended to the same two year correctional order but her conviction was struck from the record.
Brooks will be required to see a psychologist until 2021 unless deemed otherwise and cannot commit a single offence while the corrections order stands.
Brooks’ sentence was amended to the same two year correctional order but her conviction was struck from the record