Prison warder fired for Premier Inn one night stand with female inmate - just day after she was freed

Prison warder fired for Premier Inn one night stand with female inmate - just day after she was freed Daniel Hay slept with convicted arsonist Sophie Stonehewer after she joked she was a sex worker and would give him ‘mates rates’ when released A prison warder has been fired for having a one night stand with a female inmate - just a day after she was freed from jail. Father of two Daniel Hay, 47, slept with convicted arsonist Sophie Stonehewer after she made a joke to him behind bars that she was a sex worker and would give him ‘mates rates’ when she was released. A court heard Stonehewer, 28, from Brinnington, Stockport, Greater Manchester should have been staying in a hostel as part of her licence conditions - but instead went to a Premier Inn hotel with Hay. She also posted selfies to Hay showing her dressed in just her underwear whilst messages he sent her read: “You look amazing - very hot. It is going to be sad not to see your happy face.'” He added: “Do you want to go and get drunk somewhere or go somewhere with a swimming pool?” before buying her Jack Daniel's and cola and giving her £100 to go shopping for new clothes. The illicit fling emerged when Stonehewer confessed to a probation officer four days later and Hay was subsequently arrested. It is believed he later lost his job at Styal women’s prison in Cheshire. At Chester crown court, Hay, of Prestwich, Manchester who now works as an HGV driver admitted misconduct in a public office and was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 24 months. He must also carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. The pair had met on Valentine's Day 2024 after Stonehewer, who had previously set a boyfriend’s house on fire following an argument about their sex life, had been jailed for assault on police. Prosecutor John Wyn Williams said: “She is a vulnerable woman and someone who has had a troubled life, repeatedly being the victim of domestic abuse. “The defendant would not necessarily have known about her specific background but was aware that she had been in and out of custody on a number of occasions. '”On February 14, 2024 he was escorting her back from the main prison block when she asked him what he was doing for Valentine’s night and he told her he would be spending the night alone. “Thereafter she saw him on numerous occasions within the prison campus and she recalls saying to him as a joke, she was an adult worker and she would give him mates rates when she got out. “When her release date was approaching, she remembers him telling her he had booked some days off after her release date. He asked if she would like to go away for a few days and she said she would like to and he asked for her mobile phone number.” He continued: “On the morning of her release on April 4 she remembers being beckoned over to the defendant and asked the best way to get in touch with her. She told him he could call or message her and that afternoon she received a message from him. '”They talked about going to Blackpool for the day and the plan would be a fun day out. She sent pictures of her in her underwear and he sent pictures back albeit fully clothed. They arranged to meet near an approved premises where she was supposed to be staying and he bought her Jack Daniel's and bought a bottle of coke. “They checked into a hotel, made their way to their room, put some music on, continued drinking and it appears they had sex together and stayed in the room beyond the time that Miss Stonehewer was supposed to be back at the approved premises. “They carried on drinking. On April 6, they had sex again. By this time both knew she was in breach of her licence by not staying in the approved premises. She was liable to be arrested and recalled because of the breach of the licence.” The prosecution said: “The defendant took Miss Stonehewer shopping and during that time he gave her £100 in cash to buy herself some clothes. But as the day went on they began to argue and she asked the defendant to take her to another hotel. “He gave her money to pay for the room and then left and that is the last they saw each other.” When Hay was arrested and interviewed he lied and claimed he only knew Stonehewer “in passing”. He said he was celebrating his birthday with friends at the time she said they were together. He then admitted the fling but said she got drunk at the hotel and assaulted him before attempting to “blackmail” him with pictures of their meeting. Catherine Elvin, defending, said: “This is clearly a regrettable offence, one which arises from poor judgement and recklessness. It is clear the contact was consensual, he did not coerce or manipulate her. There was a physical relationship but there was no physical relationship whilst at Styal. “When the incident took place he was going through a difficult time in life, physically separating from his long-term partner. He was foolishly drawn in to boost his own self-esteem. “It is agreed on the basis of the plea that the defendant was assaulted by the complainant and he did give in to her demands for money. This was an offence in isolation, out of character for him, quite clearly triggered by personal difficulties going through at that time.” In sentencing Hay, Judge Steven Everett told him: “You succumbed to temptation and flirted with one of the prisoners. “It is important to keep in mind that it went no further than that in prison but the reality is that as soon as she was released the two of you had sexual contact. You were a prison officer and she a vulnerable victim.”