Former prison officer jailed for misconduct and drug conspiracy alongside two others

A former prison officer has been imprisoned after forming inappropriate relationships with inmates, and for conspiring with two others to smuggle drugs into prison. 

The convictions follow an investigation by officers from the Prison Intelligence Team in the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), working in partnership with the HM Prisons and Probation Service’s (HMPPS) Counter Corruption Unit. 

At Southwark Crown Court last Tuesday (20/2), Isabelle Dale, aged 23, was sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment for two counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of conspiracy to convey a List A article into prison. 

During her time as a prison officer at HMP Coldingley, Dale, of Victoria Road South, Portsmouth, formed inappropriate sexual relationships with two male prisoners, including Shahid Sharif, aged 34, who was serving a sentence at the prison for robbery. Within eight months of Dale joining the prison service, the pair were engaged. 

After Sharif was transferred to HMP Swaleside, Dale continued to visit him and sent him money via the prison system. 

Separately, between September 2021 and December 2022, Dale, Sharif and Lilea Sallis,  conspired together to convey List A articles, namely synthetic cannabinoids known as Spice, into HMP Swaleside. 

Sharif, aged 34, and Lilea Sallis, aged 28, were sentenced to two years and three months’ imprisonment and two years and six months’ imprisonment respectively for conspiracy to convey a List A article into prison. 

Dale resigned from the prison service following her arrest in November 2022. 

DCI Ryan James, Head of SEROCU’s Prison Intelligence Team, said: “Prison officers hold positions of significant trust, and the vast majority carry out their duties with professionalism and integrity.  

“Dale’s actions were a serious breach of that trust. By forming inappropriate relationships with prisoners and involving herself in the supply of drugs, she compromised the safety and security of both staff and prisoners. 

“The introduction of substances, such as Spice, into prisons fuels violence, exploitation and instability. Those who assist in bringing these drugs inside, whether staff or members of the public, play a direct role in that harm. 

“Working in partnership with HMPPS Counter Corruption Unit, we will continue to identify and prosecute anyone who abuses their position or seeks to undermine the safe running of our prisons. This case demonstrates that corruption will be uncovered and offenders will be pursued and held to account.”