Linda de Sousa Abreu is the former HMP Wandsworth prison officer who was jailed in January 2025 after being filmed having sex with a male inmate in his cell. The explicit video went viral across social media in June 2024, prompting a criminal investigation that led to her pleading guilty and receiving a 15-month custodial sentence. She was released on licence after five months due to prison overcrowding.

Who Is Linda de Sousa Abreu?

Linda de Sousa Abreu, aged 30 at the time of sentencing, worked as a prison officer at HMP Wandsworth in south-west London, one of the largest prisons in the United Kingdom. Before joining the Prison Service, she had appeared on Channel 4’s documentary series Open House: The Great Sex Experiment, which explored open relationships. Her background became central to media coverage after the scandal emerged, with some reports suggesting inmates had researched her OnlyFans presence and used it as leverage to coerce her into the encounter. De Sousa Abreu strongly denied deliberately seeking publicity from the incident.

What Happened at HMP Wandsworth?

In June 2024, a video emerged on X (formerly Twitter) showing Linda de Sousa Abreu engaging in a sexual act with a male prisoner, later identified as Linton Weirich, inside his cell at HMP Wandsworth. The footage spread rapidly across social media and garnered widespread public attention within hours. An investigation was launched immediately by the Ministry of Justice and Thames Valley Police. De Sousa Abreu was suspended from duty and subsequently arrested. In her public response, she maintained that she did not intend for the video to be shared and accused the media of distorting her account of events. She stated that inmates had access to her prior Channel 4 documentary and used knowledge of her background to exploit her.

Court Case and Prison Sentence

Linda de Sousa Abreu pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office. On 6 January 2025, she appeared at Southwark Crown Court and was sentenced to 15 months in prison. The judge noted the serious breach of trust involved, highlighting that prison officers hold a position of authority over those in their care and that any sexual conduct with a prisoner constitutes a fundamental abuse of that duty. The offence of misconduct in a public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, though the actual sentence handed down reflected mitigating factors including her guilty plea and personal circumstances. The inmate, Linton Weirich, also faced disciplinary proceedings. For more information about how prison sentences work in the UK, including how time served is calculated, see our guide.

When Was She Released?

Linda de Sousa Abreu was released on licence approximately five months into her 15-month sentence, in or around June 2025. Her early release was attributed to the widespread use of the End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) scheme, under which thousands of prisoners in England and Wales have been released early to ease severe overcrowding across the prison estate. Under her licence conditions, she is subject to supervision and must comply with requirements set by the Probation Service. She remains on licence for the remainder of the original sentence term. If you have a loved one subject to licence conditions, our guide to the Parole Board UK explains how supervision and recall work.

BBC Documentary and Ongoing Coverage

A BBC documentary exploring the Linda de Sousa Abreu case was announced in late 2025, with journalist Mobeen Azhar leading the investigation. The documentary includes testimony from former inmates, prison staff, and others with direct experience of corruption in the prison system. It examines the circumstances that led to the incident, including the question of whether de Sousa Abreu was a willing participant or was manipulated by inmates who were aware of her public profile. The case has reignited national debate about safeguarding, vetting procedures, and the vulnerability of new prison officers to grooming by prisoners.

Impact on the Prison Service

The governor of HMP Wandsworth stated publicly that de Sousa Abreu’s actions had undone years of progress in building trust and confidence in female officers working in all-male prisons. The incident prompted a review of induction and safeguarding protocols for new recruits, and calls were made in Parliament for stricter background checks for those entering the Prison Service. The case highlighted longstanding concerns about the sexual exploitation of prison staff by inmates and the lack of formal guidance on appropriate digital boundaries. De Sousa Abreu’s case is one of several recent high-profile incidents involving prison staff misconduct. For guidance on booking a prison visit or supporting someone in custody, see our dedicated resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Linda de Sousa Abreu jailed for?

Linda de Sousa Abreu was jailed for misconduct in a public office. She pleaded guilty after being filmed having sexual intercourse with a male prisoner, Linton Weirich, in his cell at HMP Wandsworth. The video was posted on social media in June 2024 and went viral.

How long was Linda de Sousa Abreu sentenced to prison?

She received a sentence of 15 months in prison at Southwark Crown Court on 6 January 2025. She was released on licence after serving approximately five months, around June 2025, as part of the government early release scheme designed to ease prison overcrowding.

Is Linda de Sousa Abreu still in prison?

No. Linda de Sousa Abreu is no longer in prison. She was released on licence in approximately June 2025 after serving around five months of her 15-month sentence. She remains subject to licence conditions and probation supervision until her sentence period expires.

Why did Linda de Sousa Abreu say she had sex with the prisoner?

Linda de Sousa Abreu has claimed that inmates at HMP Wandsworth were aware of her appearance on Channel 4 documentary Open House and her OnlyFans profile, and that they used this knowledge to coerce and exploit her. She has denied wanting the video to be shared publicly and has criticised media coverage as one-sided. The full circumstances remain disputed.

Was there a BBC documentary about Linda de Sousa Abreu?

Yes. A BBC documentary examining the case was announced in 2025, led by journalist Mobeen Azhar. The documentary investigates the wider context of the incident, including corruption in prisons, staff vulnerability, and the role of social media in the scandal. It features testimony from former prisoners and prison staff.