Linda de Sousa Abreu caught on camera in steamy cell session released under overcrowding rules
A former prison officer who shocked the nation when she was filmed having sex with an inmate has been freed from jail early after serving just five months of her 15-month sentence.
Married Linda de Sousa Abreu, 31, was jailed for having sex with serial burglar Linton Weirich in his prison cell at HMP Wandsworth last June in footage that went viral across social media.
However, she has now been released on licence as prison overcrowding means offenders can be freed after a third of their sentence if they show good behaviour, The Sun reports.
‘Shocking Example of Soft Justice’
Ex-Met Police detective Peter Bleksley told The Sun: “This is a shocking example of soft justice. Where’s the deterrent when sentences and time served are as short as this?”
De Sousa Abreu admitted to having sex with the same prisoner on multiple occasions, while she was also caught on her own body camera performing oral sex on him on June 25 – the same day the original sex tape was filmed.
The scandal has sparked outrage among law enforcement officials who say the early release sends the wrong message about misconduct in positions of authority.
Caught in the Act
The shocking footage, filmed by Weirich’s cellmate on an unauthorised phone, showed the uniformed officer engaging in sexual intercourse with what Judge Martin Edmunds KC described as “evident enthusiasm”.
In the video, which sparked a police investigation, Weirich’s cellmate can be heard providing commentary while appearing to smoke cannabis.
He can be heard saying: “Guys we’ve made history, this is what I’m telling you.”
Grinning, the prisoner filming adds: “This is how we roll in Wandsworth.” He also tells his cellmate having sex: “You know you’re gangster innit!
Multiple Sexual Encounters
During sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court in January, the court heard that De Sousa Abreu had engaged in sexual activity with Weirich on at least three occasions over the course of a few days.
Judge Edmunds said: “One was performing oral sex on the same prisoner on a separate occasion on the same day, an event partly recorded, by accident, on your prison issued body worn camera.
“The other was a previous occasion of sexual intercourse with the same prisoner.”
He added: “They show that this offence was not isolated. It was part of repeated behaviour.”
Criminal Background
Weirich was jailed for four-and-a-half years at Kingston Crown Court last June for burglary after he stole £65,000 worth of valuables from a safe in a flat in Kensington.
The serial burglar has since been moved to HMP Swaleside in Kent, where he was reportedly attacked by a fellow inmate in December while holding his three-month-old baby during a prison visit. The infant suffered a fractured skull in the incident.
OnlyFans Model and Swinger
De Sousa Abreu, who claimed she has “found faith in God” since the incident, also has an OnlyFans account where she shares explicit content.
Her account reads: “I am a happily married sexy latina who wants to share hot content with you. Experience my real life, real love, real sex and real orgasms!
“We believe in authenticity, all our content will be genuine and we’ll never fake it because we want you to enjoy watching it as much as we’ll enjoy making it!”
Reports also emerged that she had appeared on a Channel 4 television series about swinging and open relationships.
Claims of Coercion
Close friend Hayley claimed De Sousa Abreu had been going through a difficult time when the illegal act behind bars was carried out.
Hayley, who only wanted to give her first name, claimed prisoners knew De Sousa Abreu’s husband’s name and about her OnlyFans.
“They knew her address, her husband’s name and that she had an OnlyFans account. She was put under a lot of pressure and there was a lot of coercion involved,” Hayley told MailOnline.
She claimed the alleged ‘pressure’ and ‘coercion’ had a knock-on effect on De Sousa Abreu’s marriage around the time the scandalous footage was recorded.
However, prosecutors dismissed these claims, stating De Sousa Abreu had never made any complaints to authorities and had actually planned the encounters.
Airport Arrest
The disgraced officer was arrested at Heathrow Airport as she attempted to board a flight to Madrid with her father. She had phoned the prison as she fled to the airport to say she was not returning to work.
Damage to Female Officers
In a damning statement, HMP Wandsworth governor Andrew Davy said her actions had “undone years” of efforts to increase male prisoners’ respect for female officers.
“It has taken many years for female staff to be respected and treated professionally in a male dominated environment,” he said. The action of this defendant has undone years of positive and rewarding prisoner interactions in less than a day.
Mental Health Claims
During sentencing, her defence lawyer Rajiv Menon KC asked for a reduced sentence, citing a psychiatric report that found she had a “severe personality disorder” that combined with ADHD made her a “highly impulsive and reckless person who tends to act without considering the consequences”.
However, Judge Edmunds stressed the severity of her offences, acknowledging wider problems within the prison system but emphasising that Abreu’s actions had worsened them.
Ministry Response
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Offenders released on licence are subject to strict conditions and can be recalled to prison immediately if they break the rules.
The early release has reignited debate about prison overcrowding and whether justice is being served when offenders serve such a small portion of their sentences, particularly in cases involving abuse of positions of authority.
