A PRISON chaplain who had a relationship with a Winchester inmate has herself been jailed for eight months.

Married mum-of-two Jade Watson smuggled in alcohol and muscle-building bars for Daniel Thornton who she met while she worked at Winchester Jail.

The court heard that Watson had had a sexual relationship with the inmate and later brought in the items when he returned to jail between May and December 2010.

Watson pleaded guilty to keeping a mobile phone in the chaplaincy for Mr Thornton and smuggling in vodka and Maximuscle cyclone bars.

The chaplain worked for the evangelical Church Army.

Prosecuting, Oliver Wellings said Watson, 44, had worked with Thornton for three years in her role as a prison chaplain.

Susan Ridge, mitigating, said that the defendant had sex with Thornton on one occasion in January 2010, after she had too much to drink.

She said: “Mrs Watson, who had not drunk any alcohol for 15 years, was pressurised into having a drink and having had a drink had another and did something that she greatly regrets.”

The court heard that Watson battled alcoholism and anorexia in her 20s and turned to Christianity after she married.

When Thornton returned to Winchester Prison in May 2010, Watson attempted to carry on a working relationship.

Last October she was persuaded to send a picture of herself in her underwear to the prisoner’s mobile phone.

Miss Ridge said: “That then leaves her in a position where she is vulnerable to suggestions that he (Thornton) and another prisoner makes to bring food stuff and a small quantity of alcohol in.”

When Thornton’s cell was searched, Watson agreed to look after his mobile phone.

Miss Ridge said: “She (Watson) is very much aware that she has let herself down and she has let Church Army down. She is aware she was in a position of trust and she has breached that.

“She has lost not only her job, she has lost her position with the Church Army, her licence has been withdrawn, she has lost all the standing within the community. What she has left is her family and her faith – she hopes that will stand her in good stead to face the punishment she will now receive.”

Judge Keith Cutler, Recorder of Winchester, told Watson, of Blueberry Gardens, Andover, that the maximum sentence she faced was two years in prison, but he would reduce that to eight months.

He said: “You shouldn’t be there (in the dock), you should be out doing the work you have been called to do.

“It’s great sadness to anyone to hear this story. You knew as a chaplain you were there not only to befriend and guide and assist but also you had the training and you knew the boundaries.”

He added: “I hope this case will not bring the chaplaincy into disrepute. Chaplaincies in prison are certainly a very special calling.”