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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Josh Halliday North of England editor

Corrupt Liverpool prison worker jailed for smuggling drugs and sending sex texts to inmates

Helen Spree.
Helen Spree was the head of the independent monitoring board (IMB) for HMP Liverpool when she engaged in illicit chats with prisoners over a 20-month period. Photograph: NWROCU/PA

A corrupt prison watchdog boss who billed herself “the prisoners’ Deliveroo” has been jailed for five years after admitting sending sexual messages to a killer inmate and smuggling drugs.

Helen Spree, 63, was the head of the independent monitoring board (IMB) for HMP Liverpool when she engaged in illicit chats with prisoners over a 20-month period. Spree was said to have become besotted with Dylan Westall, 35, who was serving a life sentence for manslaughter for shooting a teenager in the head.

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