Prison officer suspended over claims she had ‘inappropriate’ relationship with inmate at scandal-hit jail
A FEMALE guard at a trouble-plagued hit jail has been suspended over claims of an inappropriate relationship with a con.
Prison officer Katerina Tatus was “marched to the gates” at HMP Feltham after the alleged affair was uncovered by an anti-corruption unit.
Police are now investigating the claims, which come amid growing concerns about corruption in jails and relationship between guard and inmates.
Former Wandsworth prison officer Linda de Sousa Abreu, 30, was jailed for 15 months in January after being filmed having sex in a cell with a lag.
We revealed shocking video of the romp last June.
Tatus – said to have worked for the prison service for around three years – is understood to have been suspended after a staff member submitted an intelligence report.
And a source said: “Katerina was stopped and marched to the gates by security.
“She has been accused of having an affair and being too close to a prisoner.
“It is unclear if it was a Feltham inmate or if something happened with someone at another jail.
“It was even suggested a mobile number of hers had been used by a prisoner.
“But her suspension has sent shockwaves around the jail and it has happened because of an intelligence report by other staff.
“It was the custodial manager, in charge of her unit, who finally found out about the allegations.
“Katerina is a pretty girl and was popular with staff and inmates.
“If she has done what she is accused of, though, she has ruined her career.
“Bosses are really worried about misconduct and corruption, especially after recent cases, so are doing their best to clamp down on it.
“But if Katerina has been misbehaving, she is not the only one in Feltham.
“There have been other claims of affairs and lots of find of material like phones and vapes which they fear have been smuggle in by staff.
“Another officer is being investigated over that, but that investigation has not concluded.”
On her Facebook page – now deactivated – Tatus posed pictures of herself holidaying and partying with pals.
Under one snap, a follower wrote: “Prettiest one in Feltham.”
HMP Feltham in west London operates as a prison for inmates aged 18 to 30 and a separate young offenders’ institution for under-18s.
Tatus worked in the adult prison.
A report last year found Feltham A – the young offenders institution – had the highest levels of violence of any prison in Britain.
We told in January how a teen held at Feltham for plotting a terror attack had stabbed several prison officers while he was banged up.
And an inspection report on Feltham B – the adult side – last year found “concern about violence against staff”.
A record number of female prison officers have been fired for romps with male lags in recent years.
Twenty-nine got the boot from 2020 to 2022 compared with nine between 2017 and 2019.
The most notorious recent case saw De Sousa investigate for having sex with burglar Linton Weirich in Wandsworth as another inmate filmed their romp.
Another female guard – Jessica McCleary, 29 – was spared jail last November, but handed a suspended sentence over a romance with inmate Levi Weekes at HMP Berwyn, north Wales.
Approached about her suspension, Tatus said: “I didn’t do anything, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “It would be inappropriate to comment on a live Police investigation.”