Cally White, a former officer at HMP Berwyn, avoided prison after admitting to more than 100 illegal database searches. Between March and April 2023,the 26-year-old accessed private records for inmates Ryan Hamid and David Blackburn.
The 104 unauthorized searches at HMP Berwyn
Cally White utilized her professional credentials to conduct a series of illicit queries into the prison's secure database. According to the report, White accessed the records of inmate Ryan Hamid approximately 60 times, seeking sensitive data including case notes, offense details, and scheduled release dates. She further targeted inmate David Blackburn, searching his files 44 times, specifically focusing on his disciplinary record after prison authorities discovered contraband in his cell.
These actions represent a significant breach of the trust placed in correctional staff at HMP Berwyn. By accessing this information without a legitimate operational reason, Cally White bypassed the security protocols intended to protect inmate privacy and maintain the integrity of the judicial process.
The 'Sophie Wright' alias and the Ryan Hamid connection
The investigation into Cally White's conduct revealed a complex web of deception involving a fake identity. As reported, White adopted the alias "Sophie Wright" to maintain a secret relationship with Ryan Hamid, continuing their communications even after Hamid was released and subsequently recalled to a different correctional facility.
The North West Regional Organised Crime Unit uncovered this relationship in November 2024 through recorded phone calls. these recordings provided evidence that Cally White discussed internal prison operations and staff members with Ryan Hamid, while also admitting to her unauthorized access to the HMP Berwyn systems. While White denied a romantic involvement with Hamid,the prosecution presented financial transactions and private messages to suggest otherwise.
Judge John Philpotts' ruling on a suspended nine-month sentence
Despite the severity of the breach, Recorder Judge John Philpotts opted not to impose immediate incarceration. The judge handed Cally White a nine-month prison sentence, which was suspended in favor of 200 hours of community service, 10 days of rehabilitation, and a requirement to pay £1,000 in prosecution costs.
The court noted a stark contrast between White's academic achievements—which include a degree in criminology and a master's degree—and her "foolish and dishonest" behavior. while the defense attorney, Maria Masselis, argued that White's strong family support and new employment justified leniency , Judge Philpotts emphasized that corruption within the prison system is a grave offense that undermines the entire correctional framework .
A pattern of misconduct among female guards in North Wales
The case of Cally White is not an isolated incident of staff failure at HMP Berwyn.. The report indicates that her actions underscore a broader pattern of misconduct specifically involving female guards at the North Wales facility, suggesting a potential cultural or supervisory failure within the institution's staffing structure.
This trend echoes wider concerns regarding "grooming'" and the compromise of prison staff by inmates. When officers are manipulated or enter illicit relationships, the security of the entire facility is jeopardized, as sensitive operational data can be leaked to the inmate population, potentially facilitating escapes or the smuggling of contraband.
Whether other inmates' data were compromised beyond Hamid and Blackburn
While the court focused on the 104 searches related to Ryan Hamid and David Blackburn, it remains unclear if Cally White accessed the records of other inmates during her tenure. The report does not specify if a full audit of all database queries made by White was conducted or if other prisoners were targeted for similar reasons .
Furthermore, the source does not clarify why the unauthorized access, which occurred in early 2023, was not detected by HMP Berwyn's internal monitoring systems until November 2024 . This gap in detection raises questions about the efficacy of the audit logs used by the Ministry of Justice to track staff access to sensitive inmate data.
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