An inmate who went viral after being filmed in an intimate encounter with a female prison officer inside a UK jail has described the incident as the “biggest regret” of his life.
Linton Weirich opened up about the controversy involving former prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu, saying the fallout destroyed relationships with his partner, family, and affected his life behind bars.
The scandal erupted in 2024 after an explicit video allegedly showing Weirich and the married prison guard inside a cell at HMP Wandsworth surfaced online and sparked a major investigation.
Speaking in a recent interview with The Sun, Weirich said many people celebrated him online after the video went viral, but behind the scenes, the consequences were devastating.
People called me a legend, but the effect it’s had is terrible. It caused so much damage to my partner, my family and myself. It’s the biggest regret of my life,” he said.
The 38-year-old inmate also alleged widespread corruption within the prison system, claiming some officers smuggled prohibited items into prisons for money.
According to him, some prison staff made extra cash by bringing meals and other items to inmates at inflated prices.
Weirich revealed that after the scandal became public, he was transferred from HMP Wandsworth to another correctional facility, where he was allegedly attacked by fellow inmates.
Meanwhile, Linda De Sousa Abreu resigned from her job after the tape surfaced and later admitted misconduct in public office. She was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment before being released after serving part of her sentence.
Reacting to the controversy, the former officer admitted she regretted her actions and described herself as “incredibly embarrassed.”
The UK Ministry of Justice has since reiterated its commitment to tackling corruption and contraband smuggling in prisons through stricter security measures and tougher staff vetting processes.
