A woman who worked as a health care assistant at HMP Risley in Warrington has been jailed after being found guilty of smuggling drugs into the prison.
Megan Woodham, aged 30, was one of three people jailed today, Tuesday 10 January, for a total of 34 years in prison following an investigation into drug dealing.
Daniel Doran, aged 32, of Hall Lane, Tower Hill in Kirkby, Woodham, of Ormskirk Road, Wigan, and Kelsey Higgins, of Ridgewood Way in Bootle appeared at Liverpool Crown Court.
Doran was sentenced to 15 years, Higgins was given 13 and half years and Woodham received six years after they were found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine) following a two-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday 15 December. In addition, Woodham was also convicted for conspiracy to supply Class B Drugs (ketamine) by smuggling it into HMP Risley when she worked there as a health care assistant.
A further defendant, Valerie Doran, 54 years, of Hall Lane, Tower Hill in Kirkby, was found guilty on 15 December for money laundering. She is due to be sentenced on Friday 20 January.
The investigation was linked with a previous conviction of John Butler, 27, of Clements Way in Tower Hill who was found in possession of 10 kgs of cocaine with an estimated street value of £1 million in January last year.
Patrols stopped a black Volkswagen car driven by Butler carrying the 10kgs of cocaine on Heysham Road in Netherton last January. He was jailed for eight years at Liverpool Crown Court on 8 February after admitting to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
Detective Sergeant Peter Sloan said: “We welcome this latest sentencing of Doran, Woodham and Higgins today which highlights the fact that we will leave no stone unturned.
“This was a complex investigation which has developed from the arrest of Butler and a subsequent investigation resulted from that stop check.
“Organised crime is hugely damaging to our communities, often involving intimidation, violence and creating fear and it is these criminals who run County Lines.
“Criminals involved in organised crime have no thought for anyone other than themselves, and their criminal intent and greed.
“I would ask anyone who has any information about who is supplying or selling drugs in their area to contact us so we can take action.”
Read more here about how to spot the signs of exploitation linked to drug dealing and the Eyes Open campaign, introduced by Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership: www.eyes-open.co.uk
Anyone with information on drug dealing in their community is asked to contact @MerPolCC, call 101 or Crimestoppers UK anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.
