Prison officer jailed after sex with inmate and plotting to smuggle spice into prison
Isabelle Dale, 23, has been jailed
A former prison officer has been jailed for having illicit relationships with two inmates and plotting to smuggle spice into jail.
23-year-old Isabelle Dale, of Cosham, Portsmouth, became romantically involved with prisoners Shahid Sharif and Connor Money, soon becoming engaged to Sharif.
She later plotted with Sharif and his associate, Lilea Sallis, to smuggle spice (otherwise known as synthetic cannabinoid) into HMP Swaleside in Kent.
Dale was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment for two counts of misconduct in a public office between September 2021 and December 2022, and one count of conspiring to convey a List A article into prison.
Sharif, who is already in custody at HMP Wandsworth, and Sallis were also jailed for the latter charge.
During sentencing at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge Christopher Hehir told Dale: "I have concluded that unfortunately you are a thoroughly devious and untruthful and manipulative young woman.
"I suspect you actually joined the prison service with a view to becoming involved in criminal activities with prisoners."
Dale's first and only posting as a prison officer began in September 2021 at HMP Coldingley, Surrey.
By January, Dale and Sharif, who was serving a more-than-12-year sentence for an "extremely violent" robbery, had had "at least some contact", and by May they were engaged.
Dale had a tattoo of Sharif's street name on her neck, and a picture of the couple was found hanging above her bed at home, the judge said.
Sharif subsequently moved to Swaleside prison and Dale signed off work sick on reduced pay.
She joined the list of approved visitors to Sharif's by concealing her job role, the judge said.
Dale resigned as a prison officer, and was arrested on her sixth visit to the prison.
Dale, Sharif and Lilea Sallis, 28, also planned to bring envelopes dipped in spice into Swaleside prison, but a postal strike and a disagreement between Sallis and Sharif foiled the plans.
Syam Soni, the counsel for the defence, said Dale's offending was influenced by mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, emotionally unstable personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sallis was sentenced to two and a half years in jail and Sharif received 27 months.