Corrupt prison officer jailed for inmate sex and drug plot

A former prison officer has been sentenced to three and a half years’ imprisonment after engaging in illicit sexual relationships with inmates and orchestrating a conspiracy to smuggle synthetic drugs into a high-security facility.

Isabelle Dale, 23, appeared at Southwark Crown Court where she was convicted of two counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of conspiring to convey a List A article into prison.

The court heard that Dale, of Portsmouth, became romantically involved with convicted robber Shahid Sharif and prisoner Connor Money while serving as a guard at HMP Coldingley in Surrey.

The 23-year-old subsequently became engaged to Sharif, even tattooing his street name on her neck and displaying a composite photograph of the couple above her bed at her family home.

Prosecution evidence revealed that the pair engaged in sexual activity within the chapel area of HMP Coldingley before Sharif was transferred to HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey.

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Following the transfer, Dale continued the relationship while on sick leave, visiting the prison five times under a false identity to bypass security protocols meant to identify serving officers.

The trio, including Sharif’s associate Lilea Sallis, plotted to smuggle spice-soaked envelopes into the prison, a scheme Sharif claimed could generate £3,000 per week in illicit trade.

Judge Christopher Hehir described Dale as a "thoroughly devious and untruthful" individual, suggesting she may have entered the prison service specifically to engage in criminal activities.

He added: "She wanted to do it. I think she’s attention seeking and I think she seeks validation and I think she did that through relationships with prisoners."

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