Love triangle prison chaplain jailed (From Daily Echo)

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Winchester Prison chaplain Jade Watson jailed after affair with inmate

10:01am Tuesday 15th March 2011 in Crime Photograph of the Author Exclusive By Andrew Napier, Winchester Chief Reporter

Prison chaplain Jade Watson (inset), and Winchester Prison.

SHE was supposed to be providing spiritual comfort and guidance to those behind bars.

Instead Christian mum-of-two Jade Watson smuggled in alcohol and other treats for an inmate with whom she had a sexual relationship.

Now she is beginning a jail term herself after a judge sentenced her to eight months inside.

The married prison chaplain met Daniel Thornton while working for the Church Army – an evangelical Church of England group – at Winchester Prison.

Winchester Crown Court heard that after he was released the couple had sex and Watson, 44, smuggled in vodka and muscle-building bars for Thornton when he was sent back to jail between May and December 2010.

She claimed she was blackmailed into doing it after she was persuaded to text a photograph of herself in her underwear to Thornton’s mobile phone.

Her husband Peter, who is also a Church Army member, is standing by her. Last night he refused to comment about the case.

Watson pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office after admitting keeping a mobile phone in the chaplaincy for Thornton and bringing him vodka and Maximuscle Cyclone bars.

Susan Ridge, mitigating, said that the defendant had sex with Thornton on one occasion in January 2010, after she had too much to drink.

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She said: “Mrs Watson, who had not drunk any alcohol for 15 years, was pressurised into having a drink and having had a drink had another and did something that she greatly regrets.

“That then leaves her in a position where she is vulnerable to suggestions that he (Thornton) and another prisoner makes to bring food stuff and a small quantity of alcohol in.

“She is very much aware that she has let herself down and she has let the Church Army down. She is aware she was in a position of trust and she has breached that.

“She has lost not only her job, she has lost her position with the Church Army, her licence has been withdrawn, she has lost all the standing within the community.

“What she has left is her family and her faith – she hopes that will stand her in good stead to face the punishment she will now receive.”

Judge Keith Cutler, Recorder of Winchester, told Watson, of Blueberry Gardens, Andover: “It’s great sadness to anyone to hear this story.

“You knew as a chaplain you were there not only to befriend and guide and assist but also you had the training and you knew the boundaries.

‘Special calling’

“You shouldn’t be there (in the dock). You should be out doing the work you have been called to do.

“I hope this case will not bring the chaplaincy into disrepute. Chaplaincies in prison are certainly a very special calling.”

The court heard that Watson battled alcoholism and anorexia in her 20s and turned to evangelical Christianity after she married.

After completing her training in 2007 she worked as an evangelist at Winchester, where she met current and former inmates and helped them face up to their problems and take responsibility for their lives.

She was involved with Bringing Hope, Living Hope, a Church Army initiative aimed at the poorest and most vulnerable.

In a statement, the Church Army said: “We take this matter extremely seriously, and as well as withdrawing her commission as a Church Army officer she has been dismissed from Church Army’s employment for gross misconduct.

“The Bishop of Winchester has also withdrawn her licence to operate as an evangelist in the prison as it was limited to her employment with the Church Army.

“Church Army acted swiftly to suspend Jade Watson’s commission as soon as she was arrested. During this suspension her licence from the Bishop of Winchester ceased to be valid.”

Church Army chief executive Mark Russell said: “I am really saddened that Jade’s ministry should come to an end in these circumstances. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.”

A Prison Service spokesman would only confirm that Watson had been jailed after “she was discovered in an inappropriate relationship with a prisoner”. He declined to comment further.

Additional reporting by Jen Rivett

Comments(18)

Block 42 says...
10:14am Tue 15 Mar 11

Sounds like the kind of dvds I tend to buy.Nice story.