Married Andrej Martynov, 44, exchanged flirtatious online messages with a colleague at the south-west London prison, urging her to join him in the Caribbean.
He was employed by private facilities management firm Carillion, who had a government contract at the prison and began working there despite hardly speaking a word of English.
Lithuanian-born Martynov, of Routh Street, Beckton pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in public office on or before September 12, 2019, namely while the ‘lock and key controller’ made moulds of keys and removed them.
“He had the moulds for the specific purpose of enrichment. The intention was for a dishonest purpose if a selling opportunity arose,” announced Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Judge Rajeev Shetty.
When his boasts were reported by colleague Sabrina Ghany police raided his matrimonial home and discovered in a sock drawer the two quick-drying cement moulds, containing three key impressions.
The project escort, who accompanies outside contractors and tradesmen within HMP Wandsworth, told the court she was one of only two fellow-workers who joined Martynov for his birthday drink in a local pub.
“He told me he fancied me and he was interested in me and made two sets of keys and was going to sell them. He said he was going to sell them for fifty thousand pounds each and start a new life.
“It sounded like a joke and I did not take it seriously. It didn’t sound genuine.
“Later we had a beer on Wandsworth Common and he said he wanted to sell the keys and that he had a buyer.
“He said there was a woman interested and that we could go to Trinidad, where | am from and have a comfortable life there.
“He was very serious and very determined and I kept it very casual and did not show him any reaction, but he was saying it one too many times so I reported him.
“There was an extremely flirtatious facebook element, but I deleted it and apologised to him,” added Ms Ghany.
“He specifically told me he made a set of Class One and Class Two keys.”
There is no evidence Martynov used the moulds to manufacture keys, but after their discovery all the keys and locks in the entire prison were changed.
Prosecutor Richard Job told the court Martynov began working at HMP Wandsworth in April, 2017 and was fully trained in sensitive security procedures.
“He would be in possession of prison keys that he would collect at the start of his day’s work and have access to the wings and the cells.”
Police raided his former home in Earlsfield Road, Earlsfield on September 13, 2019.
“When officers searched a chest of drawers they found two blocks of cement, each bearing the impression of keys and he said they were moulds of prison keys,” explained Mr Job.
“He used quick-drying cement, but said he had no intention to supply them to anyone else.
“Using the keys one could get from the cell to the prison grounds with only the wall to scale and as a result all the keys and locks in the prison had to be replaced.”
Police also found two containers of cannabis, which Martynov claimed he bought from a cyclist in Wandsworth Park for £80 and he paid a £246 fine, plus a total of £107 in court costs on his first appearance.
With the assistance of an interpreter Martynov told the court he innocently made the moulds to assist his understanding of prison locks.
“The prisoners block the locks and I thought I could make a tool to open the locks, like a tool bit,” he explained.
“I wanted to train myself how to pick the locks, I wanted to know how prison locks work so I could complete call-outs quicker and go home.
“I made the moulds and one day took them home in my pocket. I did not want to throw them away in case someone recognised them as prison keys.
“I realised I made a stupid mistake and I wanted to smash the moulds when my wife was out, but I did not get the opportunity.”
Martynov laughed at the suggestion he could charge £50,000 per key, insisting he did not discuss this with Ms Ghany.
“About prison keys we talked nothing at all. We have not talked about prison keys,” he said.
“It was a bad idea to make the moulds, I recognise that. That is why I took them out to destroy them.”
Rejecting Martynov’s account Judge Shetty told him: “You are facing a custodial sentence,” bailing him to return on November 30.
“I cannot see any justification for suspending the sentence. It is not that long ago that somebody actually escaped from Wandsworth prison.
“I don’t see any circumstances where a court could impose anything other than an immediate custodial sentence.”
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