![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article30881139.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_310723hunter1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA prison officer who started an inappropriate relationship with an inmate, sent racy snaps to him and smuggled cannabis into jail for him in a Red Bull can has been locked up herself.<\/p>\n
Joanne Hunter was working at Forest Bank prison in Salford, Manchester, when she linked up with Connor Willis, who she 'thought was in love with her'.<\/p>\n
Hunter, 28, from Bury, had begun a relationship with Willis, kissing him and sending him explicit pictures of herself, but denied that it ever became sexual.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: 'Irreparable' UK street home to sex work and 'rogue den' where drugs are rife<\/b><\/p>\n
She also admitted sharing \u2018flirty banter\u2019 with another inmate. Prison authorities became aware of Hunter\u2019s crimes and she confessed after being confronted, Manchester Evening News reported.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A judge ordered her to be locked up for three years, hitting out at her "selfish and misguided" behaviour.<\/p>\n
She wept and blew a kiss to her family before she was sent down to start her sentence. Manchester Crown Court heard that Hunter began working at the jail in December 2018. <\/p>\n
Two years later, prison bosses "received information" that she had been smuggling illicit items into the jail, and she was hauled in for a disciplinary interview.<\/p>\n
Hunter admitted that she\u2019d smuggled items into the prison on behalf of an inmate named Connor Willis. She told prison bosses: \u201cSomeone from the out gave it to me to bring in for Cox and Connor Willis.\u201d<\/p>\n
She handed over the packages to \u2018big player\u2019 inmate, Cox, before they were passed on to Willis.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article30881142.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_310723hunter4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article30880716.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458\/0_Irish-gangs-meet-with-Mexicos-most-powerful-cartel-to-bring-deadly-drug-to-Europe.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n Irish gangs meet with Mexico\u2019s most powerful cartel to bring drug to Europe![](\"https:\/\/s2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/@trinitymirrordigital\/chameleon-branding\/publications\/dailystar\/img\/logo-schema-dailystar.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Hunter said that "some random girl" had met her twice at Tesco in Bury and handed over packages which she then brought into jail, one being a Red Bull can, and the other a juice carton.<\/p>\n
Hunter said she didn\u2019t know what was inside the packages but guessed it was "tobacco, burn and weed or a phone." She admitted that she\u2019d kissed Willis, 26, but denied their relationship became sexual.<\/p>\n
He had come onto the wing where she worked, and at first she didn\u2019t like him because he was "arrogant", but "as time went on he grew on her", prosecutor Rachel Widdicombe said. Hunter said they\u2019d kissed "several times" and that she\u2019d sent him "explicit photos."<\/p>\n
Willis had given her his number and she would call him and send him messages. The court was told that he allegedly "arranged" Hunter\u2019s meeting with the woman at Tesco to handover the package.<\/p>\n
Hunter, from Bury, pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office and conspiring to convey list A articles into a prison.<\/p>\n
To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/b>