Love behind bars: Prison warden and cop jailed for aiding killer

Love supposedly doesn't choose. A saying repeated by many couples aims to whitewash betrayals, workplace affairs, or even paedophilic relationships. "But he/she loves me!" is supposed to cure all the pain caused to others. In reality, love sometimes turns out to be temporary, and the problems it creates linger for years for former lovers.

The unusual incident took place in the city of Bolton in the United Kingdom. A prison warden and police officer, Stephanie Heaps, fell head over heels for murderer Layten Ramsden. The man was sentenced to 17 years in prison for murder, which he committed in a pub. His victim was a father of three, with whom Ramsden had a scuffle. The murderer, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, stabbed the victim twice, one of which pierced the heart. Hours before the tragedy, Ramsden wrote on Facebook: "I am twisted at home... feeling like I want to kill someone."

Heaps met Ramsden at HMP Wymott in Leyland, where she had worked as a prison warden since 2018. The man had been pursuing the woman from the start, eventually succeeding. The infatuated woman assisted her partner in money laundering, jointly organized a burglary of her ex-partner's apartment, passed on information about searches, and shared confidential prison and police data.

Heaps communicated with her partner through a phone illegally smuggled into the prison. The woman helped Ramsden with drug dealing within the facility where he was serving his sentence. The inmate generously rewarded his partner for her help: she received money from him for a trip to Iceland, a kitchen renovation, and an Apple Watch. The police estimate that thanks to Heaps, Ramsden earned about £12,700 (approximately £10,500) from drug dealing. Eventually, during one of their meetings in prison, the couple got married.

The lovers' case went to court. Heaps admitted to two charges of abuse of office, conversations with Ramsden via an illegal mobile phone, conspiracy to commit burglary, and conspiracy to launder money. The woman's lawyer, Laura Nash, said her client had mental health issues and claimed Ramsden had "pursued" her. Nash added that Heaps is "vulnerable" and has "low self-esteem," seeking a "stable and loving relationship." For her crimes, the former prison warden and police officer was sentenced to four years and three months in prison.

Judge Jon Close, reading the verdict, said that psychological assessments showed Heaps was "fundamentally unsuitable" for work in the prison service and police and that she was guilty of a "significant breach of trust." "Your acceptance of money can be described as profiting from someone else's criminality," he said during his closing speech.

Layten Ramsden admitted to conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to launder money, three counts of possessing a mobile phone in prison and supplying cannabis in prison. The judge sentenced the murderer to an additional five years and seven months in jail. Before being led out of the courtroom, the couple kissed goodbye.