The 25-year-old nurse who had an affair “with the same inmate as a female prison worker” faces jail

A NURSE who had an affair with an inmate now faces jail herself – while a colleague who allegedly faced the same delay has yet to plead.

Elyse Hibbs, 25, today admitted she was in an “inappropriate relationship” with an inmate while working as a nurse at two prisons.

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A second prison worker, Ruth Shmylo, also 25, appeared alongside Hibbs and is accused of having an affair with the same inmate.

However, Shmylo did not respond to a plea deal.

The women are accused of getting involved with the man in Parc B-prison in Bridgend, Wales, and have both been slapped with charges of misconduct in public office.

Qualified nurse Hibbs is accused of misconduct while working at two prisons, the 1,652-capacity HMP Parc and HMP Manchester – known as Strangeways – 210 miles away.

Shmylo’s alleged five-month relationship took place between December and April 2021.

Hibbs then became involved with the same man between May and July.

The man was not named.

Today Hibbs, from Manchester, pleaded guilty as she appeared in the dock at Cardiff Crown Court.

The charge against her reads: “As an officer, namely a prison nurse, you knowingly and without adequate excuse or justification behaved in a manner which amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust in the officer by entering into an inappropriate relationship with a prisoner .”

She was told that “all options” remain open if she is convicted of the affair.

Adam Sharp, defending himself, said Hibbs’ pleading was on a basis for prosecutors to review and called for a bias report.

She was told to return to court next month for a conviction or another warrant hearing.

Cardiff clerk Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said: “They have pleaded guilty to what I suspect is a very serious offence.

“I will order a prejudice report and release you on bail at the next hearing.

“You shouldn’t read into any of these decisions, all options remain open to the court.”

The court also heard the case against Shmylo, who previously worked at Parc prison, was unwilling to continue and was not asked to enter a plea.

The indictment against her states: “As a public official, namely a law enforcement officer, you have willfully and without reasonable excuse or justification, misconducted yourself in a way which amounted to betraying public confidence in the public official by engaging in an improper act relationship with a prisoner.”

Shmylo, from Pontypridd, Wales, is due to return to court next month.

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