Prison tutor ‘overwhelmed by foolish infatuation’ jailed for inmate relationship
She has been sentenced to 12 months in prison
Last updated 1st May 2026
A prison tutor has been jailed after admitting having an intimate relationship with an inmate.
Kelly Duffey, 36, of Amesbury, Wiltshire, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for two charges of misconduct in a public office, in connection with her affair with Ashley Goodridge at HMP Erlestoke.
Goodridge, 38, is serving a lengthy sentence for cannabis production, was also handed a 12-month prison sentence to run concurrently after pleading guilty to having a phone and using it to send a photo from prison.
The court heard that Duffey moved from full-time teaching to assist at the Wiltshire jail’s education department in May 2024, and had an intimate relationship with Goodridge between July and September of that year.
Duffey also knew of a librarian at the prison who had an intimate relationship with another prisoner.
The court heard that photos, and messages including “I love you” were exchanged by Duffey and Goodridge.
Duffey also messaged a friend on 20th August, which read: “Definitely done something this morning I shouldn’t have.”
She also said that her and the librarian discussed almost being caught before, adding “Talked about an hour about it giggling like school girls lol.”
Judge Christopher Parker KC said the defendant appeared to be “overwhelmed by a foolish infatuation”.
The judge added that Duffey’s fondness for Goodridge “in hindsight appears to be rather one-sided”, but “was heartfelt and strongly binding as far as you were concerned”.
The court also heard that Duffey expressed regret about the situation.
South West Regional Organised Crime Unit investigator PC Mark Paterson said: “The conduct displayed by Kelly Duffey will not be tolerated within a prison estate.
“She may not have been a prison officer or directly employed by HMPPS, but she was in a position of trust as an education tutor, a key role in prisoner rehabilitation."