'Who guards the guards?' - corruption was rife in prisons in the late Victorian era when lax security was readily exploited by officers and cellmates alike, but the Government finally began taking action against the practice, with magistrates urged to pass deterrent sentences to reflect its magnitude and seriousness.

Charles Stanford was a bent screw and in 1880 he appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates accused of bribing Joseph White for money to pay off a debt in exchange for smuggling in contraband, but White, heeding warnings on the grapevine, reported him to the prison governor.

Stanford, who had been a warder at Parkhurst Prison for three months but had quickly come under suspicion, pleaded his innocence until the governor, Major Nott, showed him the seven damning letters he had written to White who he had first approached about six weeks earlier while working in the potato fields: "You can deny it or not, as you think proper. Is that your handwriting?"

Faced with the uncomfortable truth, Sandford could only reply: "Yes, sir."

He was then put on duties confining him to the prison gates before he was arrested by the police and charged with trafficking which he denied, claiming he had been trying to root out the profiteering for the prison's benefit.

The court clerk Mr Parnell read out the letters.

1. "What arrangements do you wish me to come to and the terms about the coins? Write and let me know at once. I will look after it for you, and get what you like into you, and as long as you are a friend to me, you may trust me with anything you have got."

2. "Friend, I was disappointed at not getting the money from you, as I was building up upon sending away to Southampton to get you some best honey-dew, and I have not got the means to get it myself, but if I go down tonight, I will get you two ounces. I sent a bit to you on Sunday by Loverick (another prisoner). Now, I want you to do a favour for me if you will, and that is Loverick said you had three £5 notes. Now I want you to let me have them as my share. That would allow me to pay a debt I long owe, and I assure you that if you can do this for me, you will greatly oblige me and a true friend. I will ever be to you, as it would be doing me a great kindness and I will bring in something good. Now if you don't mind my terms, I will tell you them. Allow me £2 from every £5 and every piece of stuff or its value to be 10s, and if you can get the coin at once, give it to Loverick and it will be safe. Hoping my friend, you will not disappoint me in this request. Remaining yours, C. S."

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The clerk then read out five further notes, in part detailing how the cash should be handed over in the chapel with a promise he would not be disappointed with the proceeds of the transactions.

The final one said: "Friend, I am patrol in 'C' Hall today, and if you are going to let me have them, according to your word, let me on my first visit to you. I expect to be on night duty next week as I can get you all you want them. I have never mistrusted you. but I think, according to your word, you could have given them to me before now, for I have heard some other is doing it."

Mr W H Wooldridge, defending, said it was clear from the evidence Stanford, who had served in the navy for 13 years and left with a good character, had not received any money from White. Far from being corrupt, he had heard of the illicit trade and his sole purpose in writing the letters was to detect who was involved and report the findings to the governor.

"He is an innocent man in this matter. He was ignorant of the details of prison discipline and had acted to the best of his rights. He has not had the opportunity of explaining how these things happened, and another warden, who seems to have been more implicated, has been let off with a dismissal."

But his submission was readily dismissed, with the chairman F White-Popham condemning his criminality. "We think this is a very serious case, and an offence which must be put down if discipline in Her Majesty's prisons is to be maintained."

Hearing the sentence of imprisonments of three months hard labour, Stanford's wife became hysterical and had to be carried out of court.

The case received national coverage, with the Western Morning News asking how a convict could be in possession of the money and the prison being unaware of it.

It prompted a response from a former governor who explained how it was secreted in cells and through two-way bribery, they could get in touch with their family or friends to get them further money. As recompense, warders would take as much as half of it and then be asked to smuggle in wine, spirits and tobacco.