Container of Pot Noodle leads to drug trafficking ring in UK prison | United Kingdom | News

A prison guard who tried to smuggle drugs into a prison inside a Pot Noodle container is among 10 people jailed over a criminal drug conspiracy.

A plot to smuggle drugs into Lindholme Prison, near Doncaster, South York, was foiled when police found the drugs in the snack bar belonging to prison officer Victoria Sked.

Sked, now 32, was arrested and is the subject of a six-year investigation into the smuggling ring launched by South Yorkshire Police.

Police discovered drugs including MDMA, steroids, cannabis and spice, as well as mobile phones, had been smuggled in with the help of a crooked officer.

The criminal network was dismantled after police searched Sked and found a Pot Noodle containing two packets of cling film containing cannabis on August 20, 2018.

Sked was arrested the same day.

Further searches revealed the 26-year-old had even more Class B drugs, as well as MDMA, steroids, mobile phones, tobacco and a phone SIM card.

His home was then searched, where police found 17 mobile phones, five wraps of cannabis and more than £7,900 in cash.

Officers also found 332 sheets of paper soaked in spices for smoking in her home.

Investigators later discovered additional evidence linking other people to the smuggling ring, including four former inmates.

In total, seven of the 11 convicted were also found guilty of money laundering.

Prisoner Jack McGlen ran the drug-selling operation inside the prison with the help of his partner Alicia Harrison, who assisted him from the outside.

A total of 10 of the 11 defendants were sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday, December 6.

The smugglers were sentenced to a total of 25 years and five months in prison.

The people sentenced were:

Victoria Sked, 32, was jailed for three years and 11 months for drug trafficking, money laundering and smuggling mobile phones and SIM cards.

Gareth Roberts, 38, was jailed for three and a half years for drug trafficking and possessing a prohibited article while in custody.

Robert Williams, 35, was jailed for a year and 10 months for drug trafficking and possessing a mobile phone while in custody.

Simie McGinley, 30, was jailed for a year and a half for smuggling cannabis, spices, steroids, mobile phones and SIM cards and money laundering.

McGinley’s partner Ayesha Martin, 30, was jailed for three and a half years for money laundering and smuggling drugs, mobile phones and SIM cards.

Jack McGlen, 33, was jailed for four years for drug trafficking, money laundering and possessing a mobile phone while in custody.

McGlen’s partner, Alicia Harrison, 27, was sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, for steroid smuggling and money laundering.

Darren Morgan, 45, was jailed for four years and 10 months for spice smuggling, money laundering and possessing diamorphine and cocaine with intent to supply.

Adam Kirk, 34, was jailed for two years and four months for smuggling cannabis, dangerous driving, driving without a license, without insurance and over the specified drug limit.

Abigail Carter, 24, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, for cannabis smuggling and money laundering.

Diane Monks, 46, of Highfield Villas, Leeds, also pleaded guilty to smuggling cannabis and spices. She will be sentenced on Friday December 13.

DC Scott Jarvis of South Yorkshire Police said: “They all played their part in creating this complex drug trafficking and money laundering network which they thought was intangible.

“It’s thanks to the hard work of this unit to bring the conspirators of these crimes to justice.”

Prisons Minister Lord James Timpson said: “We have inherited prisons where drug use is rife, fueled by the work of organized crime gangs.

“If our prisons are to produce better citizens, not better criminals, we must combat the illicit drug trade.

“I would like to thank the police for their work, alongside the Prison Service’s Anti-Corruption Unit, in bringing this gang to justice.

“Even though the overwhelming majority of our staff are courageous and honest public servants, we work alongside the police to stop the minority who do not. »