Lonely prison warden who invited 'hot' inmate for 'some fun' on day of her release then booked hotel for three days of sex is spared jail

A lonely prison officer who invited a 'hot' young inmate for 'some fun' on the day of her release then booked a hotel for three days of drink-fuelled sex has been spared jail.Daniel Hay, 47, began chatting with convicted arsonist Sophie Stonehewer on Valentine's Day in 2024 while he was meant to be guarding her at women's-only Styal jail in Cheshire.After he told her he did not have a date for the night, she 'joked' that she was a sex worker and offered him 'mates' rates' when she was freed a few weeks later, a court heard.As her release date approached, the father-of-two booked time off so they could spend the weekend together.Within hours of being freed, Hay followed her on Instagram, saying he was going to be 'sad not to see your happy face most days'.Responding to a photograph she sent him, he wrote that she looked 'amazing' and 'very hot'.Telling Ms Stonehewer it would be 'nice to have some fun' as it was his birthday the following day, he asked: 'Can I take you to Blackpool for the day?'She agreed, saving his number under the name 'Dave', while Hay put hers in his phone as 'Howard Webb' – the name of a prominent former football referee.The following day – Friday, April 5 – he picked her up in his car, bought her Jack Daniel's whiskey and Coke, and checked into a Premier Inn where they had sex. Prison officer Daniel Hay, 47, was spared jail after inviting a troubled female inmate for drink-fuelled sex sessions at a Premier Inn on the day of her release Inmate Sophie Stonehewer (pictured) befriended Hay after asking him what he was doing for Valentine's DayDespite her licence conditions requiring her to sleep at accommodation in Preston, Hay later spent the night at the hotel with her then gave her £100 in cash to go shopping for new clothes.Ms Stonehewer was recalled to prison after telling her probation worker about the illicit fling, and Hay was arrested when he arrived for work.Interviewed by police, Hay denied having sex with the 28-year-old, repeatedly lying that he had bumped into her by chance and falsely accusing her of attempting to blackmail him.But after being confronted with hotel CCTV of them kissing and holding hands, plus messages they swapped, he changed his account.Hay – now working as a lorry driver after losing his job – was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to misconduct in a public office.It emerged at court that he had been given the job despite having previous convictions for dangerous driving and criminal damage.The pair first came into contact when he was escorting Ms Stonehewer back from the main prison block on February 14, 2024, Chester Crown Court heard.The inmate, who had previously set a boyfriend's house on fire following an argument about their sex life, was in jail for an assault on police. Hay (pictured leaving court on a previous occasion) lied to police that he had bumped into Stonehewer by chance and falsely accusing her of attempting to blackmail him Sophie Stonehewer was 'vulnerable' due to having had 'a troubled life', including being 'in and out of custody on a number of occasions', Chester Crown Court heardShe asked him what he was doing for Valentine's night to which Hay replied that he would be 'spending the night alone', prosecutor John Wyn Williams said.'Thereafter she saw him on numerous occasions within the prison campus and she recalls saying to him as a joke [that] she was an adult worker and she would give him mates' rates when she got out,' he added.As her release date approached, Hay suggested they went away 'for a few days' and asked for her mobile number.Within hours of her release on April 4, he followed her on Instagram then messaged her saying: 'I am off work for quite a while. 'It's going to be sad not to see your happy face most days.'Anyway, do you want to go and get drunk somewhere? Or do you want to go to somewhere with a swimming pool?'She sent him a photograph of herself to which he responded: 'Wow you look amazing. Very hot. 'Saturday will be my birthday, so will be nice to have some fun. Can I take you to Blackpool for the day? Or do you have to stay in Preston?' A judge told Hay (pictured) he had 'succumbed to temptation' but opted not to jail him Sophie Stonehewer pictured in 2017 when she appeared in court to admit arson'They talked about going to Blackpool for the day and the plan would be a fun day out,' Mr Williams said. 'She sent pictures of her in her underwear and he sent pictures back, albeit fully clothed.'Hay picked her up the following morning, plied her with alcohol and took her to Blackpool.'They checked into a hotel, made their way to their room put some music on, continued drinking, and it appears they had sex together and stayed in the room beyond the time that Ms Stonehewer was supposed to be back at the approved premises,' Mr Williams said.'They carried on drinking. On April 6, they had sex again. 'By this time both knew she was in breach of her license by not staying in the approved premises. 'She was liable to be arrested and recalled because of the breach of the licence.'They once again had sex the following day after Hay had taken her shopping, giving her £100 in cash to buy herself some clothes, the court heard.But later they began arguing, and after giving her money to pay for the hotel room he left.The prosecutor said Hay would have known that Ms Stonehewer was 'vulnerable' due to having had 'a troubled life', including being 'in and out of custody on a number of occasions'.She confessed to the fling when she spoke to a probation officer four days later and Hay was subsequently arrested. After initially lying that he had been celebrating his birthday with friends at the time she said they were together, he admitted the fling.But he falsely claimed she got drunk at the hotel and assaulted him before attempting to 'blackmail' him with pictures of their meeting.His counsel, Catherine Elvin, said: 'This is clearly a regrettable offence, one which arises from poor judgement and recklessness.'She said that at the time, Hay was struggling after separating from his long-term partner and was 'foolishly drawn in to boost his own self-esteem'.His basis of plea was that Ms Stonehewer had assaulted him and demanded money, she added. 'This was an offence in isolation, out of character for him, quite clearly triggered by personal difficulties going through at that time.'Hay of Prestwich, Greater Manchester, was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 24 months along with requirements that he carries out 200 hours of unpaid work.Judge Steven Everett told him: 'You succumbed to temptation and flirted with one of the prisoners.'You were a prison officer and she a vulnerable victim.'Prospective prison officers are required to disclose any previous convictions as part of the vetting process. Having a criminal record does not necessarily mean their application is rejected, with officials instead carrying out a 'case-by-case' assessment based on when the offences took place and how serious they were. Hay received a community order in 2006 for his previous offending, the court heard.