A PRISON nurse has been struck off after having an affair with a male inmate.

Deborah Pangeti was working as a mental health nurse at Winchester Prison when she kissed a prisoner and performed a sex act on him, a disciplinary hearing was told.

The relationship between the 35-year-old and an unidentified prisoner came to light about a year after it began.

Pangeti, of Hedge End, was immediately suspended pending disciplinary proceedings but resigned before a hearing could take place.

Now the Nursing and Midwifery Council's conduct and competence committee has ruled that she should no longer be able to work as a nurse.

Winchester Prison governor Matthew Scott refused to reveal what crime the man was serving time for or whether he was still in jail. He said: "In July 2006 management received allegations that in May 2006, a nurse at Winchester Prison had sexual involvement with a serving prisoner.

"Due to the seriousness of this allegation the nurse was suspended and the matter was investigated.

"At the conclusion of the investigation the nurse was charged with gross professional misconduct but resigned before a hearing was heard. The matter was then referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council."

The council's conduct and competence committee determined that the Pangeti's conduct was in serious breach of her position of trust within the prison and, therefore, in breach of its code of professional conduct.

The panel agreed that because her actions had potentially damaging consequences for the discipline and morale of the inmates at Winchester the only appropriate sanction was to strike her name from the register.

Council spokesman Leila Harris said: "As a registered nurse, Ms Pangeti had an obligation to act in such a way that justifies the trust and confidence that the public have in her and to act in such a way that upholds and enhances the good reputation of the profession.

"She did notmaintain clear professional boundaries and has shown no insight into the consequences of her actions.

"Therefore, in order to protect the reputation of the nursing profession and safeguard the health and wellbeing of future patients, she will no longer be able to work as a nurse."