A FEMALE prison officer sent a string of sexually-charged letters to a jailed armed robber, a court heard.

As previously reported, 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.

The jury yesterday heard details of the letters she is said to have sent Powell, which were confiscated after her arrest.

In them Dyer described fellow prison officer Pritchard, 33, as the “can opener helping me get to the beans”.

Dyer is accused of writing: “Right now it is 71,569 hours until you are eligible for parole.

“To me you are more than your prison number, you are a human.

“You deserve to have dreams and aspirations.

“When you come out I will support you.

“We can go to a hotel.”

The majority of the contents of the letters is not suitable to repeat in this newspaper.

The court previously heard that 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 allegedly 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”.

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

The prosecutor said: “It seems that during her time on one wing, 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.

“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].”

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

The trial continues.