A Sheppey prison worker who had a secret relationship with a gangster serving life for murder has been spared jail.

Kathryn Finch, 37, enjoyed dozens of illicit phone conversations with Carl Gordon while she was employed as an clerk at HMP Swaleside in Eastchurch.

Former gym instructor Gordon, now 27, was locked up in 2006 after stabbing Michael Campbell, 21, in Turnham Green, west London after a row over a vandalised car.

During his time at the category B prison, Gordon joined forces with 58-year-old arms dealer Paul Alexander - who supplied weapons to the gang behind the murder of schoolboy Rhys Jones - to run an underworld gun ring from behind bars.

Gordon and Finch, of Bramley Way, Eastchurch, exchanged 25 phone calls and more than 60 text messages between April 13, 2011, and May 31, 2011 at Swaleside.

She admitted a single charge of unauthorised transmission of an image of sound by electronic communication from within a prison at Southwark Crown Court.

The mother-of-three has now been sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment - suspended for two years.

Judge Peter Testar said Finch has a weak personality and was probably targeted by Gordon for "his own purposes".

Catherine Rabaiotti, defending, said Finch was suffering from depression, anxiety and alcoholism.

Finch was also given a 12-month supervision order with activity requirements to attend a women's group and undergo training or work.