Linda De Sousa Prison Officer Video: The HMP Wandsworth Scandal

Posted: 6 May 2025 | By HMPrison Guide Team

In 2024, a shocking scandal at HMP Wandsworth made headlines when a video surfaced showing a prison officer engaging in sexual activity with an inmate. The officer, Linda De Sousa Abreu, became the centre of a media storm after the footage went viral, exposing serious issues within the UK prison system. The Linda De Sousa prison officer video depicted her having sex with inmate Linton Weirich in his cell, leading to her arrest and a 15-month prison sentence for misconduct. Let’s explore the details of this incident, its aftermath, and what you can learn from the controversy.

Who Is Linda De Sousa Abreu?

Linda De Sousa Abreu, a 30-year-old Portuguese national, was a prison officer at HMP Wandsworth, a Category B men’s prison in south London, when the scandal broke in 2024. Born in Brazil, she held Portuguese citizenship and lived in Fulham, south-west London, with her husband, Nathan Richardson, and their eight-year-old daughter. Before her role as a prison officer, De Sousa Abreu was known as an OnlyFans model and had appeared on Channel 4’s *Open House: The Great Sex Experiment*, a show exploring consensual non-monogamy. She and her husband participated in the programme, engaging in a 15-person orgy, which highlighted her open lifestyle.

De Sousa Abreu joined the prison service in early 2024, but her personal life soon clashed with her professional role. Her sister, Andreina, told the *Daily Mail* that she had warned Linda not to mix her lifestyle with her work, but the consequences were severe when inmates discovered her OnlyFans content. The Linda De Sousa prison officer video brought her past into the spotlight, raising questions about vetting processes for prison staff. How did this incident unfold, and what led to such a public scandal?

What Happened in the Linda De Sousa Prison Officer Video?

The Linda De Sousa prison officer video was filmed on 27 June 2024 inside a cell at HMP Wandsworth. The footage, recorded by another inmate using a smuggled mobile phone, showed De Sousa Abreu engaging in sexual activity with Linton Weirich, a 36-year-old serial burglar with a pregnant girlfriend. The explicit clip begins with De Sousa Abreu, dressed in her full uniform, performing a sex act on Weirich. It then progresses to her having sex with him while his cellmate films, smoking and commenting, “This is how we roll in Wandsworth.” The video also captures De Sousa Abreu’s discarded radio crackling with messages from colleagues, oblivious to the situation.

The video quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage and drawing attention to security lapses at Wandsworth. De Sousa Abreu was identified by prison staff and arrested by the Metropolitan Police at Heathrow Airport on 28 June 2024, as she attempted to flee to Madrid. She had called the prison to say she wasn’t returning to work and that her husband would return her equipment. On 29 July 2024, she pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in a public office at Isleworth Crown Court, per *BBC News*. In January 2025, she was sentenced to 15 months in prison, a decision Tetteh Turkson of the Crown Prosecution Service called a “shocking breach of the public’s trust.” The Linda De Sousa prison officer video not only ended her career but also exposed deeper issues within the prison system.

What Were the Consequences of the Linda De Sousa Prison Officer Video?

The fallout from the Linda De Sousa prison officer video was swift and far-reaching. De Sousa Abreu faced immediate legal consequences, with her guilty plea and 15-month sentence reflecting the severity of her misconduct. The court heard that she had also been recorded performing a sex act on Weirich via her body-worn camera on the same day, and she admitted to having sex with him on another occasion. Her actions led to her dismissal from the prison service and public humiliation, with her OnlyFans background and Channel 4 appearance adding fuel to the media frenzy.

The scandal also had personal repercussions. De Sousa Abreu’s sister told the *Daily Mail* that inmates had blackmailed her, threatening to expose her adult content career, which contributed to her decision to engage in the act. She was struggling with marital issues and workplace stress at the time, and after her arrest, she reportedly found faith in God, seeking to rebuild her life. Weirich’s girlfriend and young daughter turned up at Wandsworth in a “blind fury” after seeing the video, per the *Daily Mail*, highlighting the collateral damage to his family. The Linda De Sousa prison officer video didn’t just affect those directly involved—it shone a spotlight on systemic failures at HMP Wandsworth.

What Does the Linda De Sousa Video Reveal About HMP Wandsworth?

HMP Wandsworth, located in South West London, has long faced criticism for its conditions, and the Linda De Sousa prison officer video added to its troubled reputation. The prison, which holds around 1,600 inmates, is the most overcrowded in England, with issues like understaffing and contraband plaguing its operations. The fact that an inmate could film the encounter on a smuggled phone underscores the lack of control within the facility. Glyn Travis of the Prison Officers Association noted that body scanners for visitors weren’t used due to staffing shortages, per *BBC News*, allowing items like phones to enter the prison.

The scandal followed other incidents at Wandsworth, such as the 2023 escape of Daniel Abed Khalife, a terror suspect who fled by strapping himself to a delivery truck. Chris Atkins, a filmmaker who spent nine months in Wandsworth in 2016, described it as a “breeding ground for more crime” in his book *A Bit of a Stretch*, citing rat infestations and a lack of rehabilitation. The Linda De Sousa prison officer video highlighted not just her misconduct but the broader failures of a prison struggling to maintain order. What can be done to prevent such incidents in the future?

How Does This Compare to Other Prison Officer Scandals in the UK?

The Linda De Sousa prison officer video is part of a troubling trend of inappropriate relationships between UK prison staff and inmates. Here’s how it compares to other cases.

• In 2024, Katie Evans, a 26-year-old officer at Doncaster Prison, was jailed for a year after sharing 4,369 intimate messages with inmate Daniel Brownley, per the *Daily Mail*. She also performed a sex act on him, similar to De Sousa Abreu’s actions.
• In 2023, Cheryl Hinde, a 44-year-old officer at HMP Kirkham, was sentenced to four months for a relationship with an inmate, involving hours of phone calls and love letters, per *BBC News*.
• In 2024, Toni Cole, 29, was jailed for a year for sharing intimate messages and video calls with an inmate at HMP Five Wells, per the *Daily Mail*. Her sentence was shorter than De Sousa Abreu’s, likely due to less explicit conduct.
• In 2023, Hannah Angwaba, 30, received a four-year sentence for smuggling drugs and phones into HMP Forest Bank during a romance with a convicted paedophile, per *BBC News*.

De Sousa Abreu’s case stands out due to the viral video and her public profile as an OnlyFans model, which amplified media coverage. The Linda De Sousa prison officer video also highlighted systemic issues at Wandsworth, unlike other cases where personal misconduct was the primary focus. What can be done to address this growing problem?

Redwood County’s Thoughts: Local Views on the Linda De Sousa Scandal

In Redwood County, Minnesota, the Linda De Sousa prison officer video scandal caught the attention of those interested in justice and prison reform. At a community meeting in Redwood Falls on 5 May 2025, locals shared their thoughts. A teacher said, “The Linda De Sousa prison officer video sounds shocking—it’s awful that something like that could happen in a prison. It makes me wonder about the kind of training officers get.”

A parent added, “I feel for her family, especially her daughter, but she made a terrible choice. Prisons need better oversight to stop this sort of thing.” People here are concerned about the impact on trust in the justice system and the need for stricter controls. What would your community think about a scandal like this?

What Can You Learn from the Linda De Sousa Prison Officer Video?

The Linda De Sousa prison officer video exposes vulnerabilities in the UK prison system and the consequences of professional misconduct. Linda De Sousa Abreu’s actions led to a 15-month sentence and highlighted issues at HMP Wandsworth. Here’s what you can take away.

• Maintain professionalism. De Sousa Abreu’s misconduct shows the importance of boundaries in high-stakes roles. Always uphold ethical standards in your work.
• Support prison oversight. The scandal reveals the need for better vetting, staffing, and security in prisons. Advocate for reforms to ensure safety and accountability.
• Consider the impact. De Sousa Abreu’s actions affected her family, the inmate’s family, and public trust. Think about how your choices impact others.

I recall a time when a colleague faced a minor ethics violation at work—it was a reminder of how quickly trust can be lost. The Linda De Sousa prison officer video is a stark example of the consequences of crossing lines. What will you do to ensure integrity in your own professional life?