Police are investigating an alleged plot by prison staff to blackmail a senior official at a jail who accidentally sent a naked selfie to colleagues.
Following anonymous threats made to him by letters, governor Tim Knight called police.
Staff were sent an angry email by Mr Knight berating them for removing the top official who sent the inappropriate image to a WhatsApp group at work.
The Ministry of Justice investigated the mishap and cleared the man – whom The Mail on Sunday has chosen not to name – but he quit his role a fortnight ago after being relentlessly ridiculed.
This episode forced HMP Erlestoke’s official to resign. Governor Tim Knight summoned police from Wiltshire after anonymous letters threatening the marriage of a man who was exposed.
In August, anonymous letters were sent by Mr Knight to the official threatening to release the image until another prison officer is cleared of an assault allegation against an inmate.
A source said: ‘The staff felt he shouldn’t have remained in post after sending the picture, while he [the official]His job was unsustainable, he realized. He was a figure of fun for the prison officers and the prisoners.’
But in his angry email, Mr Knight wrote: ‘A very small number of our colleagues have continued to go out of their way to make [name removed] continued presence at Erlestoke difficult for him and I’m hugely disappointed.
‘Additionally, [name removed]I received anonymous, threatening and abusive letters.
‘I really hope that the perpetrator of such malicious behaviour can be identified and appropriately dealt with by the police and the courts.’
HMP Erlestoke, a Category A jail that houses 500 male inmates, is located in the heart of London.
A Prison Service spokesman said: ‘A member of staff subjected to suspected malicious communications has transferred to another post voluntarily. It would be inappropriate to comment further.’
Wiltshire Police said: ‘Our investigation is ongoing.’