A former pharmacy technician, Tanya Petrie, 61, has been sentenced to over six years in prison after being nabbed in a complex conspiracy to smuggle drugs into HMP Bristol. Hailing from Worle, Weston-Super-Mare, Petrie’s downfall began when police observed her retrieving a suspicious package from a residential wheelie bin in Bristol. Further investigation revealed it contained cocaine, other drugs, and tobacco. Caught in the act at work, Petrie confessed to sneaking SIM cards into the prison, bought with money found in the bin. These SIM cards linked back to inmates like Kyle Joyner, kickstarting a series of police probes.
Bristol Crown Court found Petrie guilty of smuggling Class A and B drugs into prison. Her co-conspirators, inmate Kyle Joyner and accomplice Casey Collins, also admitted their roles, receiving substantial sentences themselves. Cops credit teamwork between officers, HMP Bristol, and various regional services for unveiling this scheme.
Detective Inspector Tim Seaman highlights this as a win against organised crime, showing their commitment to rooting out corruption inside and outside prison walls. This operation is a stark reminder that illicit activities won’t go unpunished—regardless of where they occur.
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