‘Very vulnerable’ prison officer avoids jail over relationship with inmate

‘Very vulnerable’ prison officer avoids jail over relationship with inmate - Bookmark A prison officer has been spared an immediate jail term after engaging in a romantic relationship with an inmate, an affair a judge branded as far more serious than merely "stupid". Rosie Smith, 28, received a 24-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday. She was found guilty of misconduct in public office for her months-long liaison with Marli Casaletto while working at HMP Rochester in 2023. The illicit relationship saw the pair exchange approximately 300 phone calls between January and November of that year, alongside an undisclosed number of video calls, evidence of which was found in screenshots on Smith’s phone. Casaletto, 32, facilitated these communications by using three different mobile phones from within the prison walls, rotating them to avoid detection. Further details revealed in court included Smith’s contact with Casaletto’s mother and her apparent receipt of money from his father, intended for the purchase of a car. Handwritten letters discovered at Smith’s home address, some from the prisoner and others penned by her, contained declarations such as her calling him the "love of my life" and stating: "Cannot wait to see what our future holds together." In messages to her own mother, Smith acknowledged the impropriety of her actions, writing: "Obviously doesn’t look great me saying he’s in prison and not only does that look bad I also work there." She also expressed regret, adding: "Wish I never worked where I did and all of this wouldn’t have been an issue." Casaletto, of Uplands Road, Brighton, who was released from prison in May 2024, received an eight-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, for the unauthorised transmission of an image or sound by electronic communication from within a prison. Smith was also sentenced for the same offence, receiving nine months to run concurrently with her more serious misconduct charge. Sentencing the pair, Judge Lee Harris stated: "To say this was stupid is an understatement, it was much worse than that. You both entered into this relationship with your eyes open … and knowing what you were doing was wrong." Addressing Smith directly, the judge added: "You knew – or certainly should have known – what a difficult job being a prison officer is. How important discipline is. You let yourself down, you let your colleagues down, you let everyone in that prison down. You risked your safety and all of their safety." Smith, of The Street, Pluckley, Ashford in Kent, remained visibly emotional throughout the sentencing hearing. Judge Harris explained his decision not to impose immediate custodial sentences as an "exceptional course for slightly different reasons for both of you". For Smith, he noted her lack of previous offending and confidence that she would not re-offend, citing "very strong personal mitigation" and the uncertainty surrounding the care of her baby son, for whom she is the primary carer. Her barrister, Pamela Rose, described Smith as a "very vulnerable lady". Regarding Casaletto, who is now living with his mother, working, and engaged to be married, the judge remarked: "The corner you have turned is just enough for me to take a chance on you. It’s a big chance and I accept that, don’t let me down, don’t let yourself down." His barrister, Abbey Robertson, told the court Casaletto was striving to rebuild his life and be a positive role model for his children. Both Casaletto and Smith had pleaded guilty to their respective offences at earlier hearings. [Image text:] VEHICLES PLEASE PARK HERE ALL KEEPER GATE BORSTAL INSTITUTION 1906