A married prison officer who had sex with an inmate in a cleaning cupboard during an 18-month affair has been jailed for a year.

Rachel Welburn started a relationship with Daniel Crompton after she became his designated personal officer at Frankland Prison in Durham.

Crompton was serving life for murdering an 87-year-old war veteran in 2014 in a vicious attack after he broke into his home looking for cash.

Durham Crown Court was told that Welburn, 39, "kept going missing on her shifts" to have sex with Crompton, 29, in a cleaning cupboard in the prison.

The judge said the relationship would be “hugely upsetting” for the murder victim’s family.

Rachel Welburn started a relationship with Daniel Crompton after she became his designated personal officer at Frankland Prison in Durham. (Greater Manchester Police)

Prisoner Crompton blew the whistle on the affair as "an act of revenge or spite" after realising that Welburn was not going to dump her husband – who was also a warder at the jail.

Mrs Welburn initially claimed that Crompton had raped her but was found to be lying when police found their love letters in his cell.

The mother, from Spennymoor, Durham, admitted misconduct in public office over the affair at nearby Frankland jail.

Joanne Kidd, defending, said Welburn's shame and regret were beyond measure.

Miss Kidd told the judge: “She cannot explain why she behaved in this way"

Crompton is serving life for murdering World War II veteran Frank Worsley after breaking into his Bolton home in 2013 hunting for cash.

Rachel Welburn started a relationship with Daniel Crompton after she became his designated personal officer at Frankland Prison in Durham. (Getty Images)

Sentencing, Judge Christopher Prince said: "The public do not expect prisoners, irrespective of the offences they have committed, to be engaging in sexual relationships when they should be serving their sentences."

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Robin Patton, prosecuting, said Crompton was jailed for life in 2014 for the “cruel murder” of Mr Worsley in his own home.

Mr Worsley served with the Royal Navy on five warships in the Far East during World War II.

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In a statement following his death, Mr Worsley's family said: "We could be more accepting of his death if it had been of old age, peaceful and dignified.

Crompton is serving life for murdering Second World War veteran Frank Worsley after breaking into his Bolton home in 2013 hunting for cash. (Getty)

"Instead it wasn't peaceful, he wasn't comfortable, he was scared, agitated and distressed as a result of this callous attack.

"He was in pain and there was nothing that could be done. It wasn't easy to watch him lose his fight for life over the following two and a half weeks.

"We are very pleased with the verdict, although we will never fully recover from this traumatic loss."

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