A Hells Angels bikie is the latest criminal exposed for having an alleged relationship with a female prison officer behind bars.
Gang member Christian Manu Birch was jailed at Mannus Correctional Centre in February 2011, where he met and allegedly groomed married prison officer Linda Russell.
Birch, a member of the Sydney chapter City Crew, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for supplying a commercial amount of the party drug GHB.
Gang member Christian Manu Birch (pictured) was jailed at Mannus Correctional Centre in February 2011, where he met and allegedly groomed married prison officer Linda Russell
Ms Russell allegedly had a sexual affair with Birch while he was imprisoned at Mannus Correctional Centre, a minimum security men’s prison on the border of New South Wales and Victoria.
Ms Russell’s husband reportedly also worked at the jail while the relationship was playing out.
An inside source revealed details of the sordid affair, saying people soon grew suspicious of their close relationship.
‘Birch groomed Linda telling her she looked pretty and enjoyed their monthly catch-ups,’ they told The Daily Telegraph.
‘It happened easily because Mannus is an open, minimum-security facility with lower staffing levels.’
When Birch was transferred to a different prison, Ms Russell quit her job soon after.
A Corrective Services spokeswoman said there was an internal investigation into an alleged relationship between an inmate and former prison guard at the Mannus Correctional Centre.
The revelation comes as married prison guard Amy Connors (pictured) has been suspended from her work for an alleged affair with an inmate
Kempsey prison guard Amy Connors was exposed for having an alleged relationship with inmate Sione Pensisini (pictured right), imprisoned for killing a police officer in 2002
The revelation comes after Kempsey prison guard Amy Connors was exposed for having an alleged relationship with inmate Sione Pensisini, imprisoned for killing police officer Glenn McEnallay in 2002.
Under current laws it is not a criminal offence to have sex with a prisoner. It is considered a breach of the code of conduct.
Connors is expected to be formally charged with misconduct in public office for the alleged relationship.
Corrective Services Minister David Elliott is now considering tougher measures to stop prison guards and inmates entering into inappropriate relationships.
‘The terms of reference will include this relationship,’ Mr Elliott said
Ms Connors (left and right) had posted about her weight loss surgery in recent years, sources said
The victim and the guard: Glenn McEnallay (left) and prison officer Ms Connors (right)