A female prison officer has been jailed following a steamy exchange of letters with a convicted murderer.

Syndi Baker, from Crawley, has been jailed for 12 months for misconduct in public office after having close relationships with one prisoner serving a life sentence for murder and another serving five years for firearms offences.

The 25-year-old was investigated by police after a prisoner hinted she was involved in a sexual relationship with an inmate.

Guildford Crown Court was told that Baker exchanged letters with an inmate – who she first met at a young offenders’ institution in Greenwich five years ago – which contained “sexual innuendos” and “romantic overtures”.

Baker’s lawyer, Rachel Naylor told the court her client accepted she had “displayed extraordinary stupidity”.