Violent Bolton inmate and prison guard lover sentenced after affair

In 2014 Damien Baxendale was jailed for 10 years for a vicious attack on his then girlfriend which left her so badly injured that her face was unrecognisable.

But while at HMP Lancaster Farms he began an affair with 23-year-old prison officer Alisha Fallows and used an illegal mobile phone, smuggled into the jail, to contact her.

They also communicated via the prison telephone system, with Fallows pretending to be a member of his family, between November 2020 and February 2021.

Alisha Fallows

Fellows, of Goldsmith Street, Barrow, was spared jail after admitting misconduct in a public office.

Preston Crown Court heard how Fellows' four-month fling with 32-year-old Baxendale, formerly of Briercliffe Road, Deane, came to light in February last year and she was removed from her post.

They both appeared in court today to be sentenced.

Judge Philip Parry sentenced Fellows to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years and ordered her to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.

She was also electronically tagged and made subject to a 7pm to 6am curfew for four months.

Baxendale, who admitted possessing a prohibited item between October 1 and December 16, 2020, will serve his jail term at the end of his current sentence.

Detective Superintendent Karen Jaundrill Kitchen, from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “Alisha Fallows abused her position as a prison custody officer by choosing to have inappropriate relationships with an inmate and she will now have to face the consequences of her actions.

“We want to reassure the honest, dedicated and hardworking staff that work in our prisons that we will continue to take action against people who choose to engage in corrupt activity.”