Linda De Sousa Abreu

Linda De Sousa Abreu Sentenced for Sexual Misconduct with Inmate at HMP Wandsworth

In a shocking breach of trust within the UK's prison system, former HMP Wandsworth prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu was sentenced to 15 months in prison in January 2025 for misconduct in public office. The 31-year-old, who turned 31 in December 2024, admitted to having sexual relations with inmate Lajuane 'LJ' Weirich, a serial thief, on multiple occasions while on duty. The explicit encounters, which took place in a jail cell, were captured on video by Weirich's cellmate and subsequently went viral on social media, exposing the sordid details to the public.

The primary incident involved De Sousa Abreu, still in her full prison uniform, performing oral sex on Weirich. The footage then showed the pair engaging in sexual intercourse, with the cellmate filming and commenting, 'Guys we've made history, this is what I'm telling you.' De Sousa Abreu also admitted to another instance of sex with the same inmate. Notably, her own body camera recorded the oral sex act on the day of the filmed encounter, providing irrefutable evidence of the misconduct. Weirich, who has a pregnant girlfriend outside the prison, was serving time at the Category A facility.

• The video was obtained and reported by Channel 4's UK Prisons - Sex, Drugs & Corruption: UNTOLD, which highlighted systemic issues in British prisons.
• De Sousa Abreu was dismissed from her position following the scandal.
• This case is part of a broader pattern, with a record number of female prison officers fired for similar relationships with inmates.

The sentencing at court underscored the severity of abusing her position of authority. A Prison Service spokesperson stated: 'While the vast majority of our prison staff are honest, we are catching more of the small minority who break the rules through our Counter-Corruption Unit and stronger vetting. Where officers fall below our high standards, we do not hesitate to take robust action.' The case has drawn attention to the rising incidents of corruption in prisons, with 1,624 investigations into security breaches between January 2022 and March 2024, more than double the figure from a decade prior.

De Sousa Abreu's actions not only violated prison protocols but also contributed to the narrative of out-of-control jails, as explored in the Channel 4 documentary streaming from 25 June 2025. The explicit clip's circulation amplified the embarrassment for the Prison Service, prompting calls for improved vetting and oversight.