Ex HMP Manchester staff member jailed for smuggling contraband

Yesterday (Thursday 23 January), an ex-Drug and Alcohol Recovery Practitioner Nurse at His Majesty's Prison (HMP) Manchester was jailed for having a relationship with an inmate and smuggling drugs in for him. 

Sara Kachach, 31, of Aird Avenue, Kilmarnock was jailed for 2 years after pleading guilty to misconduct in a public office, conveying Class A, B, and C drugs into the prison, fraud by false representation, and failing to comply with a section 49 notice. 

Inmate Kasim Ahmed, 29, who was serving at HMP Manchester at the time, was jailed for 2 years after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office and possession of List B articles which included mobile phones, SIM cards and a USB stick. 

The investigation, led by the the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit in collaboration with HMPPS National Counter Corruption Team and HMP Manchester uncovered a sophisticated operation in which Kachach used her position in the prison to bypass security measures to bring drugs and tobacco into the prison for inmates.

The investigation revealed that inmate Kasim Ahmed, who was due to be released in November 2022, was found in his cell on 22 April 2022 talking on a mobile phone. Officers seized the phone and a memory stick during the search.  

Kachach was arrested on 10th August 2022 at HMP Manchester, and subsequently suspended and later dismissed from her role, which involved assisting inmates with the recovery of drug and alcohol abuse. 

Upon being taken to a custody suite, Kachach was searched and found with cannabis, ketamine, cocaine, and tobacco hidden in her bra. Officers also recovered a condom containing cannabis.  A search of her office at HMP Manchester revealed a large quantity of cannabis, various steroid tablets and tobacco hidden in her personal drawer in a smell proof bag. A search of her home address led to the seizure of a substantial amount of cash, mobile phones, and SIM cards.  
 
On 2nd December 2022, shortly after being released on license from HMP Forest Bank, GMP officers arrived at Ahmed’s home address in Bury and saw him fleeing from the driver’s seat of a Porsche Macan registered to Sara Kachach, who was in the passenger seat. Ahmed was arrested and returned to prison. 

Further investigation led to Kachach being interviewed on suspicion of committing fraud by false representation after she had applied for finance for a car using false information. Kachach refused to provide the officers with the PIN number for her phone and was later charged with failing to comply with a section 49 notice.

Analysis of her mobile phone revealed over 3000 contacts with Ahmed. 

Detective Constable Brian Johnston from the NWROCU Prison Corruption Unit said: 

"This case highlights the serious consequences of breaching the trust placed in prison staff.

"The actions of Sara Kachach not only undermined the safety and security of HMP Manchester but also facilitated criminal activities within the prison.

"We are committed to working with our partners to ensure that such breaches are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted."

A spokesperson for HMPPS National Counter Corruption Unit said:

“This sentence reflects the successful joint partnership of HMPPS National Counter Corruption Unit, HMP Manchester and the NWROCU Prison Anti-Corruption Unit.

HMPPS Counter Corruption Unit are committed to seeking out and pursuing the very small minority of corrupt staff who abuse their position and tarnish the reputation of those committed and hard working staff across the wider prison estate”.