Berenice Mulvanny represents prison teacher charged with conveying a mobile phone into HMP Albany for a "dangerous and manipulative" rapist
14th March 2018
Paul Kent was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court in November 2013 to 19 years imprisonment for a string of sexual offences and was described as "a dangerous man who spent many years manipulating, controlling and abusing women in the Basingstoke area". He was represented by Ian Lawrie QC, 3PB's previous Head of Chambers (now His Honour Judge Lawrie QC) and prosecuted by 3PB's Stephen Parish.
Paul Kent was moved to HMP Albany where he started a relationship with a woman of previous good character who was working as a food technology teacher. She was subsequently groomed into conveying an iPhone into prison for him. He then blackmailed her to try and force her to smuggle more items into custody. She refused and reported herself to the police.
HHJ Crabtree OBE sentenced her to 2 months immediate custody, the maximum sentence being 2 years imprisonment.
It transpired that there had been a previous allegation of an inappropriate relationship between Paul Kent and a prison volunteer. On that occasion the CPS had charged the volunteer with misconduct in a public office. 3PB's Tom Horder represented her and the CPS dropped all charges.
Read press coverage here and here.
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