A FEMALE prison officer had an inappropriate ‘sexual’ relationship with a male prisoner and even had a colleague smuggle her underwear and naked pictures into jail for her lover, a court heard.

Barbara Dyer allegedly had a ‘physical’ relationship with prisoner Saul Powell, sending him letters and receiving phone calls from him under fake names.

Prosecutors say the 26-year-old even got her colleague Matthew Pritchard to ‘smuggle’ pants and photos of her into Winchester Prison between March and April last year.

It is alleged Dyer carried out an inappropriate ‘sexual’ relationship with Powell, while Pritchard, 33, facilitated the relationship.

A court heard she and Pritchard had been working as prison officers at HMP Winchester when she started the alleged relationship between February 1 and April 2 last year.

Dyer, of Bournemouth, and Pritchard, from Southwick, both deny one count of misconduct in a public office.

Winchester Crown Court heard Dyer had become close to Powell, who was serving 17 years behind bars but then handed in her notice on March 6.

Prosecutor Jane Rowley said Dyer was moved off the wing Powell was kept in, but had been sending letters to him under the name ‘A. Cartwright’.

Ms Rowley told the court Dyer, from Bournemouth, used another false name to

receive calls from the prisoner.

When prison officers became suspicious about the letters and telephone calls, governor Mark Creaven listened to recordings and identified Dyer.

The prosecutor said: “During the course of 2017, the defendants, Matthew Pritchard and Barbara Dyer, were both serving prison officers at Winchester prison.

“Of course, there are procedures that have to be strictly adhered to. Prisoners are permitted fundamental rights such as contact with family and friends.

“Any prison officer is acutely aware of the strict regime to keep them safe, the prisoners safe and the integrity of the system safe.

”Both the defendants are charged with the same offence of misconduct in a judicial or public office.

“It seems that during her time on one wing [at HMP Winchester], Miss Dyer befriended a prisoner - Saul Powell.

“It is clear during that time they developed a close personal relationship and the prosecution say she is guilty of misconduct that amounted to an abuse of your trust in her and her role. There is nothing wrong with prisoners having relationships with people outside, but you can imagine it is a gross breach of trust for prison officers to do so with prisoners.

“As a result of befriending Powell, this led to a romantic relationship, which was sexual and intimate.By the time she handed in her notice, Miss Dyer was no longer working on Powell’s wing but still contacted him by letter and telephone calls.

“She also sent him intimate photographs of herself and a pair of her knickers.”

Ms Rowley continued: “Mr Pritchard is alleged to have aided Miss Dyer in continuing her relationship with the prisoner.

“He not only agreed to, but did smuggle letters into prison. Prisoners are allowed to have letters but they are checked and have to go through official channels.

“The letters written were taken by Mr Pritchard and on one occasion he not only circumvented the route for letters but actually took in a letter with intimate photos of Miss Dyer and a pair of her knickers.

“You will hear that Miss Dyer accepts contact with Mr Powell, but she does not accept she committed an offence as the relationship started after she left the wing [he was on].”

“The letters Miss Dyer wrote were written in the name A. Cartwright, from an address in Poole.

“The letters showed a recent relationship, which one prison officer found unusual as Mr Powell had been in the prison for some time.

“He then looked at calls made by Mr Powell and found he had called the same number several times.

“Governor Mark Creaven listened to the calls and identified the voice as that of Barbara Dyer. She was immediately put on gardening leave.

“The prosecution say there was some form of physical relationship between Miss Dyer and prisoner Powell and it will be for you to decide if that is the case.

Ms Rowley added“Mr Pritchard says he had handed back the items to Miss Dyer when he was asked to take them into the prison.

“He says he is not aware how they got into prisoner Powell’s cell.”

The trial continues.