Two people from Nottingham are among a group to have been convicted after an investigation uncovered one of the UK's largest prison drug smuggling operations. The four-year investigation led to the conviction of a prison nurse and others who helped to smuggle drugs - thought to be worth more than £1 million.
South Yorkshire Police said the investigation began in October 2019 when the force received information that drugs and items including lock knives were being smuggled into HMP Lindholme, reports Yorkshire Live.
Amy Hatfield, 37, a mental health nurse at the prison was arrested and that arrest led to the unravelling of a criminal network. Hatfield told Detective Constable Scott Jarvis that she had "some stuff" on her when she was arrested at the prison.
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A search of her belongings revealed multiple wraps of cannabis, tobacco, anabolic steroids, vials of liquid, MDMA, phones and chargers. She also had several bottles of Ribena which actually contained a liquid form of spice.
The value of the spice, it was said, was estimated by prison experts to be around £1millon. Detective Sergeant Gareth Gent, of South Yorkshire Police, said: "As we started to dig into Hatfield’s associates and connections, little did we know that we would uncover such large-scale criminality.”
Officers examined Hatfield's phones, movements and banking, her co-conspirators were identified, arrested and charged with a number of offences linked to the smuggling of substances and phones into prisons for large sums of cash. The total prison value of drugs recovered over the course of the nearly four-year investigation was well over £1million.
A 19-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court concluded on Thursday and with Paul Whittingham, 58, of Halifax Road in Bradford, found guilty of money laundering. He was found not guilty of conspiracy to supply class B drugs, conspiracy to convey list B articles into prison (drugs) and conspiracy to convey list B articles into prison (phones.) Whittingham was the last of the criminal group to face legal proceedings.
Hatfield, 37, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, conspiracy to supply class B drugs, two counts of conspiracy to convey list A articles into prison (drugs and knives), conspiracy to convey list B articles into prison (needles) and money laundering.
Audrey Needham, 56, of Comfrey Close, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and money laundering.. Lucy Whittingham, 36, of Bradford, pleaded guilty to money laundering. William Francis, 56, of Hogan Gardens, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin, possession with intent to supply spice and cannabis, and conspiracy to convey List A articles into prison.
Aneeze Williamson, 29, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and conspiracy to convey List B articles into prison (phones). Natalie Williamson, 35, of West Royd Drive, Shipley, pleaded guilty to money laundering and being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs. Lydia Pinnington, 22, of Clieves Road, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering. She appeared alongside Paul Whittingham on trial charged with conspiracy to convey List A articles into prison (drugs) and conspiracy to convey List B articles into prison (phones). She was found not guilty of those charges.
DS Gent said: "Yesterday marked the culmination of a four-year investigation into one of the most significant and complex prison conspiracies in the country, unravelling a network of criminals both in and out of the prison system working to smuggle dangerous and illegal substances into custody for money.
“This investigation has spanned nearly four years and the amount of work that has gone into building this complex case to present to the courts is considerable. I want to recognise the dedication and patience of the jury throughout this lengthy trial process, which has taken nearly five months. I am indebted to the investigation team, in particular the officer in the case DC Jarvis, who has worked so hard to gather evidence against those involved, and to the specialists who have provided their knowledge and experience.
“As a result of our tireless determination to uncover this criminal network, we have disrupted and dismantled an incredibly dangerous drugs operation that posed a significant risk to the prison population, it’s staff and the wider community.”
Whittingham will be sentenced at a later date.
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