A disgraced prison psychologist will be allowed to return to work after forming relationships with two inmates and sending them a series of sexually charged text messages.
Mother-of-four Sarah-Jane Lodington was found guilty of two counts of abuse of power, one count of bringing something prohibited into a corrective services center and one count of disclosing confidential information.
He admitted having “an inappropriate personal relationship with two inmates”, Allen Milos and David Gardiner, at Palen Creek Correctional Centre, south-west of Brisbane.
He texted them, kissed and hugged them, and had sex with Gardiner following his release from jail in December 2019.
Mother-of-four Sarah-Jane Lodington had inappropriate relationships with two inmates in a Queensland jail while she was a psychologist. She appears in a selfie allegedly sent to inmate David Gardiner in 2019.
Mother-of-four Sarah-Jane Lodington is pictured outside her home on the Gold Coast in 2022
Her registration as a psychologist was suspended for four years in October 2019.
In a Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal decision handed down in December and published on Tuesday, judicial member Ray Rinaudo said any further suspension would be “punitive”.
He said Lodington can return to work once he has an “approved practice location.”
‘It is noted that a reprimand is not a trivial penalty; “It has the potential to have serious adverse implications for a professional,” he said.
‘These sanctions sought include (Lodington) being subject to a program of conditions and it must be said that the Court is comforted by the fact that (Lodington) will continue to receive competent mentoring and attend treatment with her treating professionals in the terms established in the specifications.”
Pictured are some of the texts Lodington shared with former inmate David Gardiner.
Another text that Lodington shared with Gardiner is seen. She was suspended as a registered psychologist for four years in 2019.
Lodington’s conditions will see her complete 32 hours with a mentor, which will be completed over 18 months.
While he admitted to failing to maintain professional boundaries with the two prisoners, Lodington denied having sexual relations with them while they were behind bars.
The court was previously shown a series of explicit messages that officials say were exchanged between Lodington and inmates.
Lodington was alleged to have become involved in an affair with Gardiner in 2018 after her relationship with convicted drug dealer Milos had allegedly ended just months earlier.
Gardiner was jailed for a violent crime.
Using a phone Lodington allegedly gave him, Gardiner sent her half-naked photos of himself during their steamy 18-day affair.
On February 9, 2019, Lodington had saved Gardiner’s number under the nickname “My Love” when he texted her “I’ll wait for U.”
In one text, Lodington wrote: ‘I’m floating through life right now and I’m forgetful, and that’s because I’m totally obsessed with you!’
“I’m so excited for our future and making a beautiful bubba with you,” she said in another message.
Lodington was allegedly involved in an affair with David Gardiner (pictured) after her relationship with convicted drug dealer Milos allegedly ended just months earlier in 2018.
At 5pm on the same day, she allegedly texted him: ‘Fuck the world and everyone in it.’ “We have each other, that’s all that matters.”
He also texted Gardiner: “You are the epitome of what I think it means to be a man and you make me feel safe and protected, loved and I’m so lucky to be your girl.”
On another occasion, she seemed to be reflecting on sex with him when she allegedly wrote: “I loved it last night… I think you are an amazing lover and I loved it (too explicit).”
“I’ve never had so much pleasure in my life and when I think about the fact that we were (too explicit) it blows my mind.”
Lodington was sentenced to two years’ probation on the charges and no conviction was recorded.