Prison officer shared hundreds of sexts and calls with violent inmate she called ‘Fitty McVitty’

Claire Lloyd jailed for eight months after relationship at HMP Manchester with bank robber Andrew Hall

A female prison officer swapped hundreds of sexts and calls with a violent inmate she called “Fitty McVitty”, a court heard.
Claire Lloyd, 47, has been jailed for eight months after having a relationship at HMP Manchester with bank robber Andrew Hall, 43, whom she called her “soulmate”.
The mother of four was working at the category A and B men’s prison when she met Hall, who was given a 14-year extended sentence in 2015 for robbing a bank using an imitation firearm.
Manchester Crown Court heard that they exchanged calls and texts while she was on duty, some of which were sexual in nature, with Hall using a banned phone behind bars.
Lloyd had a number of pet names for Hall, including “Fitty McVitty” and “Mr Softy”, and he told her that she was “his world”. They planned to continue their relationship when Hall was released from prison.
Justin Hayhoe, prosecuting, said that phone records showed “hundreds” of calls and texts between the pair between April and September 2022, with some calls made while Hall was on duty and and lasting as long as two hours.
Mr Hayhoe said Hall’s name was stored in Lloyd’s phone as Pete 381 Jonny, with the number being “particularly relevant” because it signified three words with eight letters – “I love you” – and one meaning.
Hall would often ask Lloyd if she was on duty, Mr Hayhoe said, and it was clear they were engaged in a “romantic relationship”, although it was accepted it did not become sexual.
In other messages, Hall would describe carrying out sex acts and ask Lloyd to “take her knickers off”, while she would say she was “getting undressed” to “titillate” him.
They would also say how they “couldn’t wait kiss and cuddle”, Mr Hayhoe said.
The court heard rumours spread through the prison about the pair being in a relationship, and she was offered help and support by prison authorities.
But she “went out of her way” to quell those rumours, suggesting she was the victim of “malicious” gossip and was “being victimised by other staff”.
After an incident in Hall’s cell, other officers had told her to leave, she claimed, and labelled her a “corrupt b—-”.
Mr Hayhoe described her comments as an “attempt to deflect” her wrongdoing and a “ruse” to hide her unlawful relationship. She was suspended in September 2023 and arrested by police.
Lloyd, of Warrington, pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office at an earlier hearing, while Hall admitted intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an indictable only offence.
Katherine Wright, defending Lloyd, said she had suffered PTSD due to her “stressful role” and had felt a lack of support from colleagues.
She also had low self-esteem and Hall had “showed her kindness” and “stuck up for her”.
Ms Wright added that Lloyd had also suffered anxiety and depression and when “comfort” was offered to her by Hall she “clung” to it.
But Lloyd had expressed “genuine remorse” for her offending, which was a “huge error of judgment”, she added.
Gerald Baxter, defending Hall, said that he was “devastated” his actions had landed Lloyd in trouble and she had been helpful towards other prisoners, who held her in “high regard”.
The vast majority of messages between the pair were “friendly”, “affectionate” and “a lot of banter”, he added.
The recorder, Paul Hodgkinson, said that Lloyd had been “sensitive to attention”, which Hall had given her, but she had “crossed the line” by engaging in a relationship with a serving prisoner.
He said: “There were hundreds of telephone calls, hundreds of text messages passing between you and Mr Hall.
“You were given at least two opportunities by prison authorities to stop what you were doing to see the error of your ways.
“And your response was to indicate they were malicious suggestions being made against you and then to mask your behaviours.”
Hall was handed a nine-month sentence.