Linda De Sousa Abreu, the 30-year-old prison guard accused of having an intimate relationship with an inmate at Wandsworth jail, has broken her silence to address the proliferation of online fraudsters exploiting her identity. De Sousa Abreu, currently out on bail, faces charges of misconduct in public office following the release of an intimate video in late June.
In a TikTok video, De Sousa Abreu condemned online copycats who she claims have recreated her alleged sex tape or produced fetish content while posing as her. “I want to clarify a lot of things. There’s been a tremendous amount of fake profiles of me that have been monetising off my misfortune, a scandal that the entire world has somehow managed to be involved in,” she stated.
The Portuguese-born married mother, residing in Fulham, is accused of committing the act with prisoner Linton Weirich, who is serving a four-year sentence for burglary, between June 26 and 28. De Sousa Abreu emphasized that she has not personally profited from the scandal, urging the public to be wary of fake profiles and fundraising attempts in her name.
There’s been a lot of GoFundme pages and OnlyFans accounts that are not me, and I do apologise if you have fallen for it, from the bottom of my heart I apologise,” she said. She particularly addressed the creation of OnlyFans content impersonating her and recreating the alleged incident, describing it as “incredibly distasteful.”
De Sousa Abreu also hinted at the personal toll the scandal has taken, suggesting that the ordeal has revealed who her true friends are. “You do not know my side of the story. You don’t know who has you, you don’t know who your real friends are until s**t hits the fan,” she remarked, advising careful selection of friends and family.
The former guard is scheduled to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on July 29. Meanwhile, Weirich is reportedly not facing any repercussions for his alleged involvement in the incident.
This case has sparked discussions about prison security, staff conduct, and the broader implications of social media and online impersonation in high-profile scandals. As the legal proceedings continue, De Sousa Abreu’s public statement highlights the complex personal and social media fallout that can accompany such incidents in the digital age.