Ex corrective services worker Jessica Elguindy convicted over inappropriate relationship with inmate

A former correctives staffer and daughter of a decorated prison boss has avoided jail, with her illicit affair with an inmate described in court as being ‘very, very serious’ offending.

Jessica Elguindy – ex prison staffer who had an affair with an inmate.

A former correctives staffer has avoided ending up behind bars after an illicit affair with an inmate at the prison both she and her father worked at.

Jessica Elguindy, 25 – the daughter of Corrective Services NSW superintendent Walid “Wally” Elguindy – struck up a four-month relationship with inmate Beau Jones while working at Geoffrey Pearce Correctional Centre in Sydney’s northwest

The married mother-of-three has since resigned from her role at the prison, where her father was also the superintendent.

There is no suggestion Mr Elguindy is accused of any wrongdoing.

Jessica Elguindy had earlier pleaded guilty to engaging in an intimate relationship with an inmate, accessing restricted data and misconducting herself as a holder of public office.

Jessica Elguindy

Agreed facts tendered to the court reveal Elguindy confessed her love to Jones and sent nude photographs plus pictures of sex toys to his contraband phone.

At the same time, Elguindy’s former colleague and best friend Amber Clavell was allegedly carrying on a relationship of her own with armed robber Mark Kennedy.

Text messages included in the agreed facts reveal the best friends would confide in one other the woes of having extramarital affairs with incarcerated men.

The pair were arrested on April 23, after Correctives Services referred their investigation to police.

On Friday, Elguindy’s bid to have the charges dismissed on mental health grounds was thrown out by Magistrate George Breton, who told the court Elguindy’s diagnosis of anxiety and depression had some influence in pursuing a relationship with Jones.

L: Jessica Elguindy and Walid Elguindy leave Penrith court.

“The psychological reports and other materials indicated that she was struggling throughout this period but has come out the other end, but there is still plenty of work for her to do”, he said.

He said Elguindy began to “operate at (Jones’) behest” after their relationship began, sneaking in contraband for him and asking a third party to access restricted data to advance her position with him.

The court was told at the same time, Elguindy was alleged to have struck up another relationship with a different inmate and “acted in similar ways”.

Magistrate Breton said the affair was a “breach of trust”, noting Elguindy’s “deliberate, consistent and persistent actions” and the vulnerability of the inmates involved.

It was also noted that Elguindy demonstrated a considerable degree of remorse and accountability and had acknowledged the harm caused from the tryst.

Amber Clavell worked at Geoffrey Pearce Correctional Centre at Berkshire Park.

In sentencing, Magistrate Breton imposed a conviction and 12 month intensive corrections order on Elguindy, a prison term to be served in the community.

The court heard Elguindy could not report to community corrections at Campbelltown on account of the fact she used to work there.

Amber Clavell pleaded guilty to unlawfully delivering or attempting to deliver anything to an inmate, drug supply and misconducting herself as a holder of public office.

She will return to Penrith Local Court on September 24 for sentence.