In a case that sounds more like a Netflix drama than real life, a 24-year-old prison officer from South Yorkshire has found herself on the wrong side of the law after falling in love with an inmate — and getting caught red-handed on CCTV.
Morgan Farr Varney, who once appeared on This Morning to talk about a disastrous experience with online dental treatment, is now making headlines for very different reasons.
After months of suspicion and a trail of secret love letters, her relationship with a prisoner at Lindholme Prison near Doncaster has landed her in a real-life courtroom.
CCTV, Cupboards, and a Forbidden Romance
It all came crashing down when prison security footage showed Farr Varney and the unnamed inmate acting suspiciously — including entering a cupboard together.
They were also spotted loitering around one of the prison wings in ways that raised eyebrows.
These weren’t just casual chats — the behavior triggered a formal investigation.
Despite her training, which specifically warned about inmate manipulation and corruption risks, Farr Varney crossed the line.
She had joined the Prison Service in April 2022 and had undergone anti-corruption training.
But by January 2023, she was under arrest for misconduct in a public office.
“I’ve Proper Fallen in Love with Him”
When confronted by police, Farr Varney didn’t deny what was going on.
She confessed she had “proper fallen in love” with the prisoner. In fact, the romance didn’t even stop after her arrest.
The inmate was moved to another facility — Wealstun Prison in West Yorkshire — but their connection continued. Police found photos of her in his new cell.
Letters were discovered both in the inmate’s cell and back at Farr Varney’s home.
These handwritten notes painted a clear picture of a deeply emotional and intimate relationship, one that was clearly inappropriate given her position of authority.
A Surge in Female Officers Losing Jobs Over Affairs
Farr Varney’s case is just one in a growing trend. A record 29 female prison officers have been fired in the past three years over inappropriate relationships with male inmates.
That’s a steep rise compared to just nine similar dismissals between 2017 and 2019.
In another high-profile case earlier this year, a Wandsworth officer, Linda De Sousa Abreu, was jailed for 15 months after a video of her having sex with a prisoner went viral online.
“You Will Be Brought to Justice”
Farr Varney, who lived in Stainforth near Doncaster, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to ten months in prison by Sheffield Crown Court.
Detective Constable Scott Jarvis from South Yorkshire Police’s Prison Anti-Corruption Unit made it clear that this kind of behavior won’t be tolerated.
He emphasized that while cases like these are still rare, they risk damaging the entire system.
“I hope this sentencing sends out a clear message to any prison officers thinking of committing similar offences,” he said.
“If you engage in this type of criminality, you will be investigated and brought to justice.”
A Public Fall from Grace
It’s a steep fall for someone who just last year was on national television talking about a very different kind of personal struggle — an online dentistry nightmare that left her with unfinished braces and hefty bills.
Now, instead of dealing with dental costs, she’s facing prison time and a tarnished reputation — a cautionary tale about how crossing personal boundaries in a professional setting can quickly spiral into legal consequences.