🔴 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.
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."
Police searches of Dale’s vehicle following her arrest uncovered an engagement ring alongside carbon paper, a material commonly used by smugglers to disguise contraband from X-ray detection.
The judge said evidence put to the jury showed she "well understood what corruption was and the risks and dangers relating to it".
Syam Soni, defending Dale, had said her offending was influenced by her mental health difficulties, including depression, anxiety, emotionally unstable personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
He had claimed she was 'ill-equipped' for the prison environment and more vulnerable than others. However these where entirely dismissed by the court.
Beyond the drug plot, Dale admitted to managing Sharif’s social media accounts and passing sensitive security information to Connor Money regarding the timing of cell searches.
Shahid Sharif was handed an additional 27 months to his current sentence, while Lilea Sallis received two and a half years for her involvement in the narcotics conspiracy.
Dale resigned from her post prior to her arrest on what was intended to be her sixth illicit visit to the Kent prison site.
The sentencing concludes a protracted investigation into the systemic breach of security standards within the South East prison estate during the 2021-2022 period.
