Prison drama! A 31-year-old prison officer, Tori Muddyman, has landed herself a year behind bars after trying to smuggle contraband into HMP Onley in Northamptonshire. She accepted a £2,500 bribe from an inmate to sneak in a slew of banned items, including drugs, phones, and alcohol.
It all unravelled when police got a tip-off in 2019, leading to the discovery of a bag stuffed with cannabis, steroids, mobiles, SIM cards, chargers, alcohol, and tobacco in her garage. And inside the prison? Police found a mobile and some sneaky fake drinks cans loaded with drugs hidden in a cell, along with bank records connecting Muddyman to payments from the inmate’s associates.
She came clean about picking up the illicit stash at Rugby train station but claimed she hadn’t taken them into the prison. That said, the evidence was stacked against her, pointing to a plot involving her, the inmate, and two women who helped funnel the cash.
Worcester Crown Court sentenced her to 12 months behind bars. Detective Inspector Richard Cornell remarked on her failed duty, saying her actions could have sparked further criminal activity and endangered both prisoners and staff.
The inmate involved got an extra three years and four months, while one accomplice who transferred money got a suspended sentence. Another, Rashida Pervez from Birmingham, was sentenced to over two years this April.
This bust serves as a vital reminder of the importance of a drug-free prison environment and a secure justice system. Here’s hoping this sends a clear message that crime doesn’t pay!