A convicted murderer serving a jail sentence for killing a man with a Samurai sword in West Drayton had an affair with a prison guard, a court has heard.

Gavin Ward, who murdered 22-year-old Christopher Mills at his Hillingdon home in January 2006, became involved with prison officer Raisa Brumby less than two years after he had used a dating website while in HMP Coldingley, in Bisley, Surrey.

Ward, 35, appeared at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday (August 23) to admit a charge of transmitting an image/sound from inside a prison without wuthority.

It is understood that the website Ward was signed up to was Plenty of Fish, and he used it to speak to women from prison under the name Lee Johnson.

He is believed to have uploaded photos of him posing in HMP Swaleside in 2014.

Gavin Ward when he was arrested for the murder

His profile stated he was "looking to meet new people and who knows maybe meet someone special".

Brumby, 28, of Eastleigh in Hampshire, admitted wilfully neglecting to perform duty/misconduct in a public office.

They will be sentenced on September 12.

Ward, now in HMP Swaleside in Kent, was jailed for 17 years in July 2007 for Mr Mills' murder with accomplice Noel Moran, and will serve another six to seven years behind bars before he can be considered for parole.

Murder victim Christopher Mills, killed by Gavin Ward in his West Drayton home

The attack was said to be in revenge after a previous scuffle at a pub.

A Prison Service spokesperson said : “There is no place for corruption of any kind in the Prison Service, and any allegations of wrongdoing will be passed urgently to the police for investigation.

"Anyone who fails to meet our professional standards of integrity will face disciplinary proceedings and will be dealt with swiftly and robustly."

Mr Mills' mother, Gill, has launched a petition calling for a change to the law to enable police officers to be able to search any cars they stop on the roads. You can support her by clicking here.