Prison officer found naked in bed with escaped convict is jailed

A woman prison officer who was found naked in bed with one of Scotland’s most notorious criminals has been sentenced to 18 months in jail.

Christine Robertson, 45, was earlier found guilty of harbouring Jimmy Holland and she had been remanded in custody.

Sheriff Tom Hughes said: “This is a serious crime. It involved a gross breach of trust to the community you serve and a gross breach of trust to your colleagues and also a breach of trust to the service that employed you.

“You engaged in completely inappropriate written and telephone communications with a prisoner, a prisoner you knew to be of a violent disposition. A prison officer with your experience would know it was completely wrong to act in that way.”

A riot squad of ten officers used a battering ram to knock down the front door of Christine Robertson's flat in Monifieth, Angus, on March 16 last year.

The officers had been looking for James "Jimmy" Holland after he absconded from Castle Huntly jail in Perthshire, where he was serving eight years for assault and robbery.

The trial at Dundee Sheriff Court heard from Constable Dean Miller, 27, who was one of the first officers to approach the bedroom where Robertson was found.

He told the court he saw Holland crouching naked on the bed holding a "large kitchen knife".

He said: "The room was in darkness, only ambient light was getting in. He was completely naked. Mr Holland had to be tasered using an electronic stun gun. Those shoot barbs into his chest and put 50,000 volts through him.

"He was quite aggressive and belligerent. Once he was subdued I pulled back the covers of the bed to reveal a female underneath. The female was also completely naked.

"Shortly after I was ensuring the route from the living room, where Mr Holland was, to the front door was clear, I heard her say 'that's my job f***ed' then giggling or laughing."

Defence solicitor Jonathan Crowe asked the constable: "Would it be fair to describe Jimmy Holland as one of the most dangerous and feared criminals in Scotland?" and the police officer replied: "That would be fair, yes."

The trial at Dundee Sheriff Court heard Robertson had made herself Holland's personal officer and her role had involved taking him on day trips.

The court also heard of a string of text messages on Robertson's phone with a contact known as "Holland".

The court heard of three undated messages sent from Robertson's phone to "Holland", which read: "Ok honey monster xxx", "what's the post mark?", and: "Looks like Lars - a bit of me and a bit of you."

Giving evidence Jimmy Holland has said he threatened to burn the prison officer's house down if she did not write, text and call him.

Holland, who has previous convictions for hostage taking, assault and robbery, said he initially did not like Robertson when she appointed herself his personal officer at the Perthshire jail.

But he said that changed after she took him on a day release trip to the East Neuk of Fife. Holland said he began to view her as a "mother figure", before later viewing her as a "girlfriend type person".

The 41-year-old said the feeling had not been mutual and that he had been forced to exert a "hold on her".

He claimed he had run away from Castle Huntly and called Robertson telling her a friend was in trouble.

"I called Christine's number from a phone box and said her mate 'Pickled Pete' was in trouble. I was planning for her to drive me to Glasgow or to her house.

"When we got in her car there was a beeping noise because she needed fuel and she said she had to go back to her house and get her bank card, I was rubbing my hands at how easy it was.

"I ran in after her. Once I got in, went to the toilet, then went to her kitchen and took a knife. She was hysterical, but I tried to kiss her and tell her it wasn't for her," said Holland.

First offender Robertson, of Reform Street, Monifieth, Angus, claimed she was coerced into letting Holland into her flat and denied a charge of harbouring him.

Mr Crowe said: "She has been convicted of the biggest mistake of her life, a gross error of judgement and that is what she must pay the penalty for. Being on the wrong side of the bars has had a devastating effect on her and she offers an assurance that never again will she be so stupid."

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