PROSECUTORS have dropped a case against a pensioner who allegedly formed an 'inappropriate relationship' with a convicted serial rapist.

Estelle Sandles, 72, was accused of forging the friendship with Paul Kent inside Winchester Prison where she was working as a volunteer prison visitor.

Kent was jailed for 19 years in 2013 for raping four women.

But the Crown Prosecution Service has admitted that when Mrs Sandles was charged there was a mistaken understanding of her voluntary role.

Mrs Sandles, of Droxford, declined to talk about the case but denied forming any relationship with Kent and said she was angry about the way she had been treated.

She was charged with misconduct in public office and appeared at Winchester Crown Court in January.

The detailed charge said: “While acting as a public officer, namely a senior volunteer at Winchester Prison, committed misconduct in public office by forming an inappropriate relationship with an inmate.”

Her case was scheduled for a plea and case management hearing at Winchester on Thursday March 19 but the case was not publicly listed and Mrs Sandles was told early in the week that it had been discontinued.

The Chronicle asked the CPS to explain the reason for the charge and why it had been abruptly stopped.

In a statement, the CPS said: “Ms Sandles was charged with misconduct in a public office after it was alleged that she started a relationship with a defendant, whilst she was the Prison Visitors Coordinator at Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) in Winchester.

“The CPS keeps cases under constant review and following a further review of this case decided that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and therefore discontinued the proceedings.

“This decision was based on the fact that whilst Ms Sandles was a Prison Visitor Coordinator and could be considered a public servant, she did not hold ‘a public office’ in which she would have been discharging or fulfilling a responsibility of government.

“Furthermore she was also not subject to the disciplinary procedures which would apply to prison officers.  In addition, the prosecution had to prove that Ms Sandles was guilty of wilful misconduct. Although the evidence showed that there had been a relationship between her and the prisoner, we could not prove that she did anything to the advantage or benefit of the prisoner. Therefore in accordance with the Code of Crown Prosecutors we decided that there was no longer sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against Ms Sandles.”

A spokeswoman later added: “There is a distinction between ‘official visitors’ and other visitors. We received that information later. We made the decision (to drop the case) at that stage.

“We were initially told she was a prison visitor and prison visitors go under certain rules. In effect she was an unofficial prison visitor.”

Hampshire Chronicle: Winchester Prison

Winchester Prison

The exact nature of the relationship was unclear.

The Ministry of Justice declined to comment.

Kent was jailed for 19 years at Winchester Crown Court in 2013 after he was convicted of raping four women over eight years in Basingstoke. Two other victims were subjected to crimes including sexual assault, blackmail and intimidation. Sentencing, Judge Guy Boney QC said Kent had an “aura of armour-plated sexual arrogance”.

The court heard that Kent, of Belle Vue Road, Old Basing, subjected his victims to depraved sex acts.

After the hearing, Detective Constable Louise Trigg, said: “Paul Kent is a dangerous man who spent many years manipulating, controlling, and abusing women in the Basingstoke area. His behaviour towards women and girls was vile and degrading and has had lasting effects on all of their lives.”