A prison officer’s illicit relationship with a convicted sex offender inmate was uncovered following unauthorized communication, including the discovery of a lewd Valentine’s Day card in the inmate’s cell.
Livvy Edney, aged 44, professed her love for prisoner Paul Young while overseeing him at HMP Channings Wood, as revealed in court. They maintained contact through monitored three-way calls involving Young’s mother, an approved contact, with Edney posing as a friend named ‘Jules.’
Once their relationship was exposed, a Valentine’s Day card featuring two penguins was found in Young’s cell, containing highly explicit content. Additionally, Young had shared poems with Edney, discussed romantic getaways to Venice, and requested photos of her breasts, as reported by Devon Live.
Staff grew suspicious of their bond before Young, serving a sentence for a serious sexual offense, was moved to HMP The Verne. Despite the relocation, they continued to disobey rules, as evidenced by phone recordings of their discussions about post-release plans, romantic gestures, and explicit conversations.
The calls, lasting half an hour each, clearly demonstrated an inappropriate relationship between the two, according to the prosecution. Although the extent of their relationship remains uncertain from the recordings, it was evidently intimate.
Their last recorded conversation was on February 11, 2023, following which Edney was apprehended a month later. Investigations revealed searches related to Young and IPP sentences in Edney’s phone and the Valentine’s Day card in Young’s cell.
Edney, residing in Grenville Avenue, Torquay, initially denied any wrongdoing. Court proceedings indicated her troubled past, ADHD diagnosis, recent return to work after an illness, and awareness of breaching prison regulations.
It emerged in court that Young had previously engaged in a relationship with another prison officer, which piqued Edney’s curiosity. While denying a physical affair, the court acknowledged the highly sexual nature of their relationship.
Edney pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office and received a six-month prison sentence at Exeter Crown Court. The judge underscored the risk posed by such offenses to public trust in the justice system.
Detective Sergeant Will Martel of the SWROCU emphasized Edney’s deliberate efforts to conceal the relationship, stressing a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption in prisons. Collaboration with HMPPS and law enforcement agencies aims to eradicate such misconduct across the prison system.