A Casanova crook who charmed two female prison workers into an illicit love-triangle while he was in jail has today been pictured – as his two lovers admitted misconduct in a public office.
Michael Cronshaw, 36, dated Aleesha Bates, 29, and Jodie Wilkes, 27, who were both working at HMP Buckley Hall, in Rochdale.
The two women pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office when they appeared today at Bolton Crown Court. Cronshaw, who had been involved in a car crash, was not in court as they admitted the offences.
The criminal – who arrived at a previous hearing sporting a thick gold chain – entered into a relationship with Bates between December 2019 and June 2020 while she worked as a prison officer at the Category C male jail.
The 36-year-old lag lothario then entered into a second relationship with operational support grade (OSG) Wilkes between April and June 2020, the court heard.
Michael Cronshaw, 36, entered into a relationship with Aleesha Bates, 29, and Jodie Wilkes, 27, who were both working at HMP Buckley Hall, in Rochdale
Prison officer Aleesha Bates, 29, entered into a relationship with him between December 2019 and June 2020
Colleague Jodie Wilkes, 27, joined the love triangle between April and June 2020
The OSG role involves ‘supporting the smooth and safe running of the prison’ and contact with prisoners tends to be limited.
Cronshaw was due to appear in the dock alongside the pair but the court heard he couldn’t attend after being injured in a road traffic smash.
He’s charged with two counts of intentionally encouraging/assisting the commission on an indictable offence – namely misconduct in public office – by engaging in a relationship, and possessing an unauthorised mobile inside a prison.
Judge Martin Walsh, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, fixed a plea and trial preparation hearing for Cronshaw, of Droylsden, Greater Manchester, for February 1.
He bailed Bates, of Heywood, Rochdale, and Wilkes, of Horwich, Bolton, and adjourned their case for pre-sentence reports and they’ll be sentenced on February 13.
But he warned them that it was ‘no indication’ of what sentence they would be given.
The love triangle trio previously appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court in November.
Aleesha Bates, 29, is charged with misconduct in public office after allegedly ‘engaging in a relationship with a prisoner’ while working at HMP Buckley Hall, in Rochdale
Prison colleague Jodie Wilkes, 27, is also charged with the same offence
Prison officer Aleesha Bates pictured outside Manchester magistrates court
HMP Buckley Hall dates back to the 1940s but was rebuilt in 1994. It has previously been named as one of England and Wales’s most overcrowded jails.
It is meant to hold a maximum of 455 inmates but an inspection last year found 469 where caged in the jail.
Dodgy plumbing almost prompted a ‘full shut down’ at the prison, a report revealed last week.
Buckley Hall is said to be ‘well past its original life expectancy’, with major problems with the mains water supply last year almost resulting in a ‘mass relocation’ of hundreds of inmates.