© Tom Blewitt – Predator Awareness

A prison officer is facing serious allegations after being accused of forming an illicit relationship with a teenage inmate and smuggling cannabis into a secure facility.

Ruta Indrasiunaite, 38, from Mitcham, south London, allegedly engaged in a personal relationship with Royston Perry, then 17, while working at HMP Cookham Wood, a Young Offenders’ Institution in Rochester. The alleged misconduct is said to have taken place between April 29 and November 30, 2021.

In addition to the relationship, Indrasiunaite is accused of:
– Bringing cannabis into the prison
– Removing a restricted document, specifically a list of approved PIN telephone numbers
– Misconduct in public office

She appeared before Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on July 31, where she denied all charges. The case has now been referred to Maidstone Crown Court, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for August 29.

Royston Perry, now 21, also faces charges. He appeared in the dock accused of:
– Conspiring to smuggle drugs and mobile phones into the prison
– Helping to bring cannabis into the facility

While Indrasiunaite has been granted bail, Perry remains in custody at HMP Bristol.

The case has sparked concern over the integrity of prison operations and the vulnerability of young offenders. HMP Cookham Wood, which houses male inmates aged 15 to 18, is meant to be a place of rehabilitation—not exploitation.

If proven, the allegations represent a grave breach of professional conduct and institutional trust. The relationship between staff and inmates is governed by strict boundaries designed to protect both parties and uphold the integrity of the justice system.

As the case moves to Crown Court, questions remain about how such a relationship could have developed undetected and what safeguards failed. The outcome could have wider implications for prison oversight and staff training across the UK.

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