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More on KentOnline
A female prison officer from Aylesford has returned to court to admit making and receiving calls and texts from a convicted murderer inside Swaleside Prison.
Kerianne Stephens had admitted at an earlier hearing to misconduct in a public office after having a sexual relationship with killer Louis Tate, 34.
Today, Judge Philip Statman heard that Stephens has a16 month old baby - and Tate is believed to be the father.
But he added: "I want to make this clear, this is not a court of morals but a court of law."
The offences took place between September 1, 2018 and January 8 the following year when Stephens, 26, of Woodlands Road was working as a prison officer at HMP Swaleside.
Bearded inmate Tate has already pleaded guilty to making and receiving calls.
Prosecutor Maria Karaiskos had told the earlier hearing that Tate is serving a life sentence after being convicted of murder in October 2010. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years for mowing down 32-year-old father-of-three Garry Frater.
Tate repeatedly drove over Mr Frater before fleeing. Mr Frater and friends had been followed as they took a taxi home from a club in Watford.
Judge Statman adjourned sentence until next month pending a probation report which will deal with the implications to the baby if Stephens was jailed.
He told her: "You must prepare yourself for an immediate jail sentence but I am going to give anxious consideration to what is going to happen to the child."
Stephens' barrister Bethan Rogers said that the child was being cared for by the grandparents while she was in court. She was granted bail until November 10 when the pair will be sentenced.
The former prison officer sat just feet away from Tate in the dock but the two didn't look at each other during the 15 minute hearing.
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