'Extremely foolish' female prison guard is spared jail after accessing computer records for inmates

By RICHARD MARSDEN, GENERAL REPORTER and ANDY RUSSELL Published: 15:08, 4 August 2026 | Updated: 15:17, 4 August 2026 A prison officer was spared jail 'by the narrowest of margins' today after admitting illegally accessing computer records on behalf of two inmates. Cally White, 26, was branded 'extremely foolish' for agreeing to check the jail database over 100 times in respect of a prisoner called Ryan Hamid and his associate David Blackburn. White, a prison officer at Berwyn Prison, near Wrexham, North Wales, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to unauthorised access of the computer system but denied being in a romantic relationship with Hamid. She was described in court as a 'highly educated young woman' whose 'behaviour shows an enormous level of naivety'. Giving her a nine-month suspended prison sentence, a judge described her as 'extremely foolish' but 'extremely fortunate'. Mold Crown Court heard White began working at HMP Berwyn in May 2023 and had received all relevant counter-corruption training. Hamid served time at Berwyn from February 2020 to April 2024. Between March 2023 and April 2023, both Hamid and Blackburn were on the same wing. Prosecutor Karl Scholz told the court that White was not their personal officer or prisoner offender manager and 'would not have any legitimate reason to access their records'. White is the fifth female prison guard at Berwyn to be sentenced in recent years for inappropriate behaviour involving inmates – three of whom were jailed. White, pictured arriving at court for a previous hearing in April, received a suspended sentence He said White had accessed Hamid's prison record around 60 times including his personal details, offence details, release dates and case notes. Separately, she accessed Blackburn's records 44 times, which included an adjudication record after he and his cellmate were found with a number of illicit items including an iPhone. White's behaviour was uncovered in November 2024, when prison authorities received information which 'suggested that she was forming inappropriate relationships with prisoners' and had been 'in a relationship with Hamid which had continued for some time after his release on licence'. A subsequent investigation was launched by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit. Drugs kingpin Hamid, from Kirkby, Merseyside, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years in 2020 for conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. When Hamid was recalled to a different prison, HMP Altcourse, Merseyside, in September 2024 - following an arrest and breach of his licence - White, using the alias 'Sophie Wright' remained 'in phone contact with him and his sister, and was on his list of permitted contacts', Mr Scholz added. Mr Scholz said that calls between them were recorded in which they discussed her work and shift patterns , other prisoners and members of the prison staff including the head of corruption prevention. He said that White implied in the calls that she had checked computer systems at work to provide an update on Blackburn's status. Prosecutor Karl Scholz told the court that she had pleaded guilty on the basis she was not in romantic relationship with Hamid, nor that cash paid into her bank account was from Blackburn or had been facilitated by Hamid. HMP Berwyn, near Wrexham, North Wales, where White began work in 2023 White was told corruption 'undermines the whole fabric of work prisons do' Mr Scholz said that the basis of plea was not accepted by the prosecution as there was evidence to the contrary but a judge at an earlier hearing had ruled that the issue would not affect sentence. The judge, Recorder John Philpotts, told White she 'should have been beyond reproach', adding: 'Corruption undermines the whole fabric of the work prisons do and other people must be deterred from behaving in the way you did.' He said: 'It is astonishing that someone like you with the advantages you have had should be standing in the dock.' Judge Philpotts said her remaining in contact with Hamid under a false name was 'dishonest as well as stupid.' But he took into account White's 'previous exemplary character' and 'decided by the narrowest of margins that it is appropriate to suspend your sentence'. White, of Bagillt, Flintshire, was also ordered to complete 10 days of rehabilitation, 200 hours of community service and pay £1,000 towards prosecution costs. Maria Masselis, defending, said that White came from a good family and her parents, who were in court, were 'incredibly supportive'. She added: 'She is a highly educated young woman with a Masters degree and a degree in criminology. 'Her behaviour shows an enormous level of naivety. She knows how stupid she has been. She is not just sorry but deeply ashamed. 'She is now in a stable relationship, she has got herself a new job and she has a place at university to complete a further degree. She has done her best to rebuild her life.' Acting governor of Berwyn, Edward Boardman, said in a statement that corruption tends to spread fear and distress among staff and prisoners and undermines public confidence in the criminal justice system.