Former HMP Berwyn staff member jailed for more than two years
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A former staff member of HMP Berwyn was jailed this morning (Thursday 14 December) at Mold Crown Court for smuggling Class B drugs into the prison.
Jason Taylor, 53, of Prestwich Gardens, Llay, Wrexham, was sentenced to two years and eight months following a joint investigation by the NWROCU's Prison Anti-Corruption Unit, His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service's Counter Corruption Unit, and HMP Berwyn.
His crimes were uncovered by staff members arriving at the prison on June 16 June 2021 after noticing a cannabis smell coming from a post box in the staff area. Taylor was captured on camera posting three envelopes addressed to prison inmates. Upon opening the envelopes, it was discovered that a substantial quantity of A4 paper which had been laced with spice and cannabis.
Taylor was arrested on 18 June at HMP Berwyn. His home address was searched and officers discovered more A4 paper soaked in spice, mobile phones, and £11,000 cash which was seized under the proceeds of crime act.
Detective Constable Becky Pearson from the North West Regional Organised Crime said,
"Taylor engaged with inmates on a daily basis whilst working in the prisons' education department. But instead of giving prisoners the skills they would need to obtain employment after they were released, he was giving them drugs and making money off of it. The drugs he had at home and in prison are thought to have been worth up to £109,000.
"He attended a 'corruption awareness training session' just days before he was arrested, so he was fully aware of the serious consequences of his actions. Drugs in prisons endanger not only the inmates, but also the staff who must deal with the associated violence and medical episodes.
"We will continue to take robust action and investigate any offences which we suspect are taking place in our prisons. We want to reassure the honest, dedicated, and hardworking prison staff that we will continue to act against any member of staff who chooses to engage in corrupt activity. We encourage anyone who has information about corruption in our prisons to report it.”