Dad-of-two prison guard who romped with ‘hot’ inmate in three-day sex session at Premier Inn is spared jail

A DAD-of-two prison guard who romped with a “hot” inmate in a three-day sex session at a Premier Inn has been spared jail. Daniel Hay, 47, embarked on the illicit fling with Sophie Stonehewer after she joked she was a sex worker and would give him “mates rates”. Daniel Hay has avoided jail for romping with a prisoner Credit: Andrew Price / View Finder Pictures He met Sophie Stonehewer while he was working as a prison guard Credit: Facebook When the arsonist, 28, was released from prison, she was due to stay at a hostel as part of her licencing conditions but instead went to the hotel with Hay. She had sent selfies to Hay in just her underwear – with the prison guard replying: “You look amazing – very hot. It is going to be sad not to see your happy face.” Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! He added: ”Do you want to go and get drunk somewhere or go somewhere with a swimming pool?” Hay then bought Stonehewer Jack Daniels and cola and giving her £100 in cash to go shopping for new clothes. Their affair was exposed when she divulged all to a probation officer four days later and Hay was subsequently arrested. He has now admitted misconduct in a public office and was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 24 months. Chester Crown Court heard Hay met Stonehewer, who previously set a boyfriend’s home alight, at Styal women’s prison where she was serving a sentence for assault. Prosecutor John Wyn Williams said: ”She is a vulnerable woman and someone who has had a troubled life, repeatedly being the victim of domestic abuse. Most read in The Sun Stonehewer sent messages to Hay after her release Credit: Facebook She was meant to be staying in a hostel Credit: Facebook “The defendant would not necessarily have known about her specific background but was aware that she had been in and out of custody on a number of occasions. ”On February 14, 2024 he was escorting her back from the main prison block when she asked him what he was doing for Valentine’s night and he told her he would be spending the night alone. ”Thereafter she saw him on numerous occasions within the prison campus and she recalls saying to him as a joke, she was an adult worker and she would give him mates rates when she got out.” The court heard Hay asked Stonehewer if they would like to go away for a few days when her release date was approaching. On April 4 when she was freed, Hay messaged Stonehewer and the pair discussed going to Blackpool for a “fun day out”. After exchanging pictures, they checked into the Premier Inn, shared some alcohol and had sex. Hay admitted misconduct in a public office Credit: Andrew Price / View Finder Pictures Stonehewer was also handed £100 cash by Hay to buy clothes Credit: Facebook Mr Williams continued: “On April 6, they had sex again. By this time both knew she was in breach of her license by not staying in the approved premises. She was liable to be arrested and recalled because of the breach of the license. “The defendant took Miss Stonehewer shopping and during that time he gave her £100 in cash to buy herself some clothes. But as the day went on they began to argue and she asked the defendant to take her to another hotel. ”He gave her money to pay for the room and then left and that is the last they saw each other. ” When Hay was arrested, he claimed he only knew Stonehewer ”in passing” and said he had been celebrating his birthday with friends at the time. He later admitted the fling but said she got drunk at the hotel and assaulted him before attempting to “blackmail” him with pictures of their meeting. His counsel Catherine Elvin said Hay was “going through a difficult time in life” at the time and had split with his partner. It is understood Hay lost his job at Styal and now works as a HGV driver. Sentencing, Judge Steven Everett told Hay: ”You succumbed to temptation and flirted with one of the prisoners. ”It is important to keep in mind that it went no further than that in prison but the reality is that as soon as she was released the two of you had sexual contact. “You were a prison officer and she a vulnerable victim.”