A prison officer was caught on CCTV carrying "bulging holdall" full of drugs into cells.
Peter Hughes, 32, of Linwood Road, Tranmere was seen on CCTV entering HMP Liverpool carrying the bag prior to his shift starting in the early hours of April 25, 2020. He was seen entering a prisoner's cell and then leaving 20 seconds later with an empty bag.
This came after staff at the prison noticed an increase in drugs inside the jail. Cell searches were carried out at one of the wings and staff uncovered numerous prohibited items, including mobile phones, SIM cards, spice drug, steroids and tobacco.
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Following the analysis of CCTV, the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit launched an investigation into Hughes. This led to the 32-year-old being arrested at his home address on April 28, 2020.
During a search of his house, officers recovered a large number of steroids, needles, syringes, wipes and a quantity of cash. On Friday, May 12, the former prison officer was jailed for four years at Liverpool Crown Court following a joint investigation between the NWROCUs anti-corruption Unit, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service’s Counter Corruption Unit, and HMP Liverpool.
Hughes pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office, possession of class C drugs with intent to supply, and conveying class C drugs into HMP Liverpool while he worked as a prison officer at HMP Liverpool between October 9, 2017 and April 28, 2020.
The 32-year-old spent the money he made from smuggling drugs on multiple holidays, a £10,000 wedding, a hair transplant and breast surgery.
Detective Constable Brian Johnston of the North-West Regional Organised Crime Unit’s Prison Anti-Corruption Unit, said: “The conveyance of any prohibited articles into prison presents a risk to both staff and prisoners. Drugs in prison have a detrimental effect on the good order and discipline of the establishment and can be linked to instances of violence, self-harm, bullying, and debt.
"Hughes was financially benefitting from taking drugs into prison which enabled him to live a lavish lifestyle, with multiple holidays abroad, a £10,000 wedding, and trips abroad to have a hair transplant and breast surgery – all paid for with his ill-gotten gains.
“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.”
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