Former probation officer sentenced for corruption offences

Today at Preston Crown Court, former Probation Officer Leonie Wilkinson was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 120 hours of community service. This follows a thorough investigation into her misconduct while employed at HMP Preston.

Wilkinson began her role at HMP Preston in September 2020, having previously worked in an administrative capacity for a parole service company contracted to HMPPS. Her responsibilities included risk assessments for magistrates and crown court cases. At the time of applying for her probation officer role, Wilkinson failed to disclose any conflicts of interest.

As a Probation Officer, Wilkinson was tasked with engaging prisoners during their first five days in custody and again in the final 12 weeks before release, providing support around housing, finances, and employment, and liaising with community-based probation teams.

Due to COVID-19, Wilkinson’s vetting was delayed until 14 December 2020, after which she attended a mandatory induction covering health and safety, safer custody, and corruption awareness, including the requirement to declare any conflicts of interest.

From January to April 2021, Wilkinson worked remotely and was issued a secure HMPPS laptop and work phone. She had previously completed training on data protection and the Computer Misuse Act.

The court heard that in April 2021, Wilkinson disclosed to her line manager that she knew prisoner Gary Hampson and one of hs family members, citing a family connection. She claimed to have submitted a conflict of interest and intelligence report, but records show she only declared a separate connection to another prisoner. No formal disclosure was made regarding Gary Hampson and his relative.

In May 2021, intelligence reports surfaced alleging a corrupt probation officer was smuggling contraband into HMP Preston. Subsequent investigations revealed Wilkinson was in a relationship with Gary Hampson, a continuation of a prior relationship. She had visited him in prison in January 2018 and was previously listed as a friend of two other inmates.

These relationships were not disclosed during Wilkinson’s vetting in October 2022.

On 27 June 2021, a search of Gary Hampson's cell led to the seizure of a mobile phone. Analysis confirmed communications between Wilkinson and Hampson. A full staff search was conducted on 6 July 2021, and further evidence, including a card sent online by Wilkinson, and found in Hampsons cell, directly linking her to the prisoner.

Phone analysis confirmed Wilkinson had communicated with Hampson via calls, emails, and social media, including Snapchat.

Leonie Wilkinson, 27, of Burnholme Road, Preston was given a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 120 hours of community service for misconduct in a public office, unauthorised access to a computer, and encouraging the possession of a mobile device.

Gary Hampson, 26, a serving inmate, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment to run consecutively with his existing sentence after pleading guilty to encouraging misconduct in a public office and possessing an unauthorised mobile phone in prison.

Detective Inspector Brian Morley from the NWROCU’s Prison Investigation Unit said:

“Wilkinson’s actions represented a serious breach of trust and undermined the integrity of the criminal justice system. Her deliberate failure to disclose relationships and her continued contact with prisoners posed a significant risk to prison security.

“Wilkinson has now been held accountable for her actions, and we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and safeguarding within the prison system.