A PRISON officer alleged to have sent naked photos and sexually-charged letters to an armed robber was today cleared of having a physical relationship with him.

Barbara Dyer, 26, from Bournemouth, was accused of having a fling with Saul Powell, who was serving a 17-year sentence at the prison where she worked.

A jury heard she also sent him a pair of knickers, which she denied, claiming she did not know how they got into his cell.

It was alleged Miss Dyer began the relationship with 25-year-old Powell on February 1, 2017, during the three-and-a-half weeks she worked at HMP Winchester, continuing until April 2, 2017.

But the jury delivered a not guilty verdict, clearing her of one count of misconduct in a public office.

Defence barrister Daniel Chadwick had told Winchester Crown Court that Miss Dyer was a fantasist, and her letters simply resembled entries from a teenager's diary.

Appealing to the jury during the six day trial, he said: "The defence's case is that Miss Dyer never kissed Mr Powell, not in prison.

“She never did anything inappropriate with Powell while in prison.

“The kissing is fantasy – not fact."

He said there were other things Miss Dyer fantasised about, including marrying the prisoner and having children.

He said: "Miss Dyer writes the following: 'In nine years’ time we will still have time to have children.'

“[She writes] I found my grandmother’s engagement ring last night – it brought a tear to me and my father’s eye.

“I have decided if I’m going to work in one of the constabularies or a male dominated environment, I will wear it.”

He added that the defendant had been vulnerable in the days after she handed in her resignation from HMP Winchester on March 6 last year.

The 26-year-old had been working in the same place where a man who had previously stolen her handbag containing her passport and other forms of ID was serving a sentence, and she believed he was selling her information in the prison.

He said: “Miss Dyer would be experiencing a car crash of emotions.

"These letters, when you stand back and look at them, read rather like a teenager writing a diary.”

Earlier in the trial, after Miss Dyer had denied misconduct, prosecutor Jane Rowley told the court she had sent letters detailing sexual acts she wanted to carry out, photos and even the pair of knickers to Powell.

Ms Rowley said Miss Dyer wanted to live with Powell, who is from Ramsgate, Kent, and 'drive him around' when he got out of prison.

Fellow prison officer Matthew Pritchard, 33, who was originally on trial for allegedly smuggling the knickers and letters to Powell for his colleague, was cleared halfway through the case.

The court heard Mr Pritchard, of Southwick, Hants, 'did not know' how the photographs and knickers found their way into Powell's cell and the judge ruled he had no case to answer.