Prison nurse who had affair with lag jailed after helping to flood lockup with drugs

A mental health nurse has been jailed for her involvement in what is thought to be the UK’s biggest prison drugs conspiracy after she struck up a relationship with an inmate.

Amy Hatfield was one of 17 people convicted for struggling illegal substances, weapons and mobile phones into HMP Lindholme, near Doncaster, between 2018 and 2020. Hatfield, 38, had a job as a mental health support worker at the jail at the time, when she became “infatuated” with a “heavily convicted” lag, Joseph Whittingham, in 2018.

Hatfield and Whittingham, 35, began a sexual relationship before she was recruited by her lover to be involved in the smuggling. At trial Judge Kirstie Watson said Whittingham “exploited” Hatfield’s feelings for him before having banned items, including drugs, delivered to her.