Female Prison Officer, Acussed Of Having ‘S£x With Convict’

A woman working as a prison guard engaged in sexual activity with a man convicted of robbery inside a prayer area at a correctional facility, according to testimony presented in court.

Isabelle Dale, aged 23, is said to have had intercourse with Shahid Sharif at HMP Coldingley located in the United Kingdom, during which time a pair of fellow prisoners served as sentinels keeping watch.

This romantic involvement is claimed to have continued from September 1, 2021, up until December 31, 2022, prior to Sharif—who had already served three years of his 12-year incarceration—being moved to HMP Swaleside situated on the Isle of Sheppey within Kent, following the discovery of their liaison.

Furthermore, Dale faces allegations of maintaining a sexual connection with an additional prisoner named Connor Money.

This 28-year-old individual received a nine-year term behind bars for causing the death of his closest companion in an automobile accident while attempting to escape from law enforcement at speeds reaching 147mph.

Hailing from Portsmouth, Dale commenced her employment as a correctional officer back in September 2021, and she stands accused as well of introducing narcotics into HMP Swaleside.

On Monday, she made an appearance before Southwark Crown Court, facing formal charges encompassing two instances of misconduct while holding public office related to her associations with Sharif and Money, in addition to plotting to introduce controlled substances.

Observers noted the correctional worker entering the multi-faith chamber at the Surrey-based facility alongside Sharif on the date of July 19, 2022.

The pair stayed inside that space for a duration of four minutes, as two other prisoners seemingly functioned as vigilant observers, as relayed during the proceedings.

That particular area lacks surveillance by CCTV cameras, yet upon exiting, she was observed making adjustments to the region around her belt on the right side of her hip.

Following her detention by authorities, officers uncovered a text on her mobile device in which Sharif offered praise for her private parts.

‘It was good sharing dat [sic] today,’ another message said.

Through the ’email a prisoner system,’ she dispatched playful and suggestive pictures to the prisoner and also wired £100 in the form of two separate transactions, details of which emerged in court.

Subsequently, Sharif got relocated to HMP Swaleside, and there Dale came to see him across three distinct visits occurring between the months of September and October in 2022.

Recordings from CCTV cameras captured Dale, dressed in everyday attire rather than uniform, holding Sharif close and planting kisses on him.

In addition to this, the ex-correctional staff member assisted the imprisoned individual in transporting sealed packets ‘laced with spice’ into his relocated facility, as informed to the panel of jurors.

It is further alleged that she managed Sharif’s Snapchat profile dedicated to distributing narcotics and had arrangements to obtain the lab-created marijuana from a contact of Sharif’s residing in Brighton by the name of Lilea Sallis.

Later on, law enforcement personnel discovered equipment intended for smuggling drugs within the trunk compartment of her vehicle, accompanied by a ring symbolizing engagement which Dale claimed Sharif had purchased as a gift for her.

Sharif himself is absent from the current proceedings, having previously entered a guilty plea regarding his collaboration with these two females and unidentified additional parties to transport prohibited substances within the prison walls.

The prosecuting attorney, Kieran Brand, stated: ‘Their intimate relationship led to Miss Dale agreeing with him to smuggle contraband, including the illegal drug “spice” into the prison.’

Members of the jury were additionally informed that Dale entered the ranks of the prison workforce on 29 September 2021, at which point she received instruction on the routine ‘Counter Corruption and Reporting Wrongdoing Policy framework.’

In the immediate aftermath of her apprehension, authorities located a bundle of carbon paper—employed to conceal illicit items from detection by prison X-ray scanners—inside her automobile.

Those conducting the probe likewise unearthed a ‘framed canvas’ depicting the pair, positioned prominently above the bed belonging to the correctional worker in her residence.

Mr Brand continued by noting: ‘Once Miss Dale had been arrested and removed from HMP Swaleside, the prison conducted a search of Mr Sharif’s cell, where a quantity of love letters, as well as a number of provocative photographs from Miss Dale, were recovered.’

Data extracted from downloads of Dale’s confiscated phone indicated the existence of yet another ‘physical relationship’ involving the alternate prisoner while she was stationed at HMP Coldingley, as presented to the jurors.

Mr Brand remarked: ‘Miss Dale refers to watching a documentary on Belmarsh about prisoners grooming staff and includes a laughing face emoji.

‘She says “you maybe just wanting to use me because I’m an officer but I don’t think your like that xx”

‘There is also evidence on Miss Dale’s phone showing that she communicated with two further prisoners via illegally held mobile phones.

‘(She) received numerous photos of serving prisoners, as well as communicating with Mr Sharif’s relatives, all whilst employed as a serving prison officer.’

During a particular phone conversation, Sharif informed Dale of the substantial profits available from peddling spice within the prison environment, proudly asserting that a single envelope could yield as much as £16,000.

Mr Brand explained that Sharif and Dale subsequently conversed about her ‘going to Brighton where Miss Sallis lived to collect spice-soaked envelopes which Miss Dale can provide to Mr Sharif for him to sell in prison.’

For her part, Dale rejects the two charges of misconduct in a public office along with the conspiracy to introduce a ‘List A’ forbidden item into the prison setting.

Sallis, originating from East Sussex, likewise rejects the conspiracy to introduce a ‘List A’ forbidden item into the prison setting.

This courtroom examination, which got underway on Monday, has been scheduled to extend over a period of two weeks.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli