A PRISON officer accused of having a sexual relationship with an inmate has made a first court appearance.

Kate Southern appeared at Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens Magistrates' Court on Friday, April 12.

The 25-year-old is accused of misconduct while holding a public office.

Southern, of Bishop Drive, Whiston, is accused of committing the offence between December 22, 2021 and January 20, 2022 at HMP Altcourse, Liverpool.

The allegations are that she engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a prisoner under her care that included sexual activity, the sending of letters and cards and communicating by telephone.

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The charge also alleges that Southern set up a phone number re-routing service to enable the prisoner to contact others not on his authorised prison telephone list, conveyed unauthorised items into the prison on the instruction of the prisoner and accepted payments from the prisoner for a hotel stay, fuel and flowers.

During the hearing the case was sent to Liverpool Crown Court, where Southern will enter a plea to the charge.

She was granted unconditional bail and will next appear at the higher court for a plea hearing on Friday, May 10.