HMP Buckley Hall staff jailed for misconduct in a public office

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 Buckley Hall, a prison officer was jailed for 2 years and 8 months at Bolton Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday, March 27, 2024). An operational support officer was also given a 1 year suspended sentence and ordered to carry out 200 hour of unpaid work.

Aleesha Bates, 30, of Lorne Way, Rochdale and Jodie Wilkes, 27, of Farmstead Drive, Bolton both pleaded guilty to Misconduct in Public Office. 

HMP Buckley Hall launched an internal investigation in early 2020 after learning that Bates had developed a relationship with a serving prisoner. As a result, cell searches were conducted, and a mobile phone was seized, containing proof that Bates had been conversing with a prisoner using their unlawfully possessed mobile phone. The mobile phone also included evidence of Wilkes conversations with the same prisoner. 

The investigation was referred to NWROCU's Anti-Corruption Unit who arrested Bates and Wilkes at their home addresses on 2 June 2021 for misconduct in a public office.

A third defendant in the case is scheduled to appear in court, charged with two charges of intentionally encouraging misconduct in a public office and possessing a mobile phone in prison. 

Detective Chief Inspector Chris McClellan from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit’s Prison Anti-Corruption Unit, said:

“Relationships between prison staff and inmates greatly undermines and destabilises the prison regime. Bates became embroiled in an inappropriate relationship with a serving prisoner despite having completed corruption prevention training.

"Wilkes was also found to have communicated with an inmate who was in possession of an illegally held mobile phone, which she ought to have alerted the prisons security department about.

“The overwhelming majority of prison staff carry out their duties to the highest standards, however the minority who do engage in inappropriate behaviour will be investigated and the appropriate action taken.”

“We want to urge prison staff to be aware of any warning signs and to report any type of inappropriate behaviour so that we can take action to bring them to justice."