Prison librarian denies sexually assaulting six inmates while working at UK jail

A woman has denied sexually assaulting six male inmates over an eight-month period while working as a prison librarian.

Sharon Mawdsley, 45, is accused of molesting the men at HMP Kirkham, Lancashire, where she worked up until July 2018.

She is accused of nine charges in total – three for misconduct in a public office and a further six for the alleged sexual assault of the men.

Mawdsley entered a not-guilty plea when she appeared in Preston Crown Court on Tuesday (Oct 11).

She is due to return in January before her trial commences on September 29.

The ex-librarian, from Blackpool, only confirmed her name during the brief hearing and has since been released on unconditional bail ahead of the court dates.

The alleged sexual assaults are said to have taken place in the Category D prison between December 1, 2017 and July 5, 2018.