A court has heard that a prison officer engaged in a sexual act with an inmate in a prayer room while two other inmates served as lookouts. Isabelle Dale, aged 23, is facing accusations of involvement with convicted robber Shahid Sharif, who was serving a twelve-year sentence at HMP Coldingley in Surrey. Prosecutors allege that Dale collaborated with Sharif and others to smuggle envelopes containing synthetic cannabis, commonly known as “spice,” into HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent after his transfer.
Dale, who refutes the allegations, appeared in Southwark Crown Court for the commencement of a trial anticipated to span two weeks. Allegedly, she managed Sharif’s drug-dealing Snapchat account and coordinated the acquisition of synthetic cannabis from his associate, Lilea Sallis, in Brighton. Law enforcement discovered drug-smuggling materials in Dale’s vehicle, along with an engagement ring reportedly gifted by Sharif. Sallis also attended the court proceedings alongside Dale.
In the prosecution’s presentation, Kieran Brand stated, “This case revolves around accusations of prison corruption and the illegal introduction of drugs and communication devices into the prison environment.” The case centers on Dale, a former prison officer at HMP Coldingley, who allegedly engaged in a romantic relationship with an inmate, Sharif, resulting in collaboration to smuggle contraband, including ‘spice,’ into the facility. Sallis was purportedly responsible for supplying the contraband on Sharif’s behalf. Additionally, it is alleged that Dale was involved in intimate relationships with other prisoners.
According to the jurors, Dale joined the prison service in September 2021 and was briefed on the standard ‘Counter Corruption and Reporting Wrongdoing Policy framework.’ On July 19, 2022, Dale and Sharif were observed entering a multi-faith room within the prison for a brief period, accompanied by two inmates acting as lookouts. Following this encounter, sexually explicit messages from Sharif to Dale were discovered on Dale’s phone.
Further revelations indicate that Dale visited Sharif on multiple occasions at HMP Swaleside between September and October 2022. Surveillance footage from one visit on September 27, 2022, showed Dale embracing and kissing Sharif in civilian attire. Dale also allegedly sent flirtatious images to Sharif via the ’email a prisoner system’ and made financial transactions while serving as a prison officer.
Upon Dale’s arrest on November 1, authorities found incriminating items in her car, including carbon paper used to conceal contraband from prison x-ray scans. Notably, a framed canvas featuring the couple was discovered in Dale’s home. Investigations post-arrest uncovered love letters and provocative photographs from Dale in Sharif’s cell at HMP Swaleside.
Additional evidence from phone downloads revealed a physical relationship between Dale and another inmate, Connor Money, at HMP Coldingley. Conversations on Dale’s phone indicated communication with two more prisoners via illicit mobile phones, along with interactions with Sharif’s relatives during her tenure as a prison officer.
Brand highlighted Sharif’s guidance to Dale on smuggling “spice-soaked envelopes” into the prison for distribution. The instructions emphasized discreet handling to avoid detection and trips to Brighton for contraband collection from Sallis.
Dale, from Portsmouth, denies two charges of misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to convey a prohibited article into prison. Sallis, residing in East Sussex, refutes involvement in the conspiracy to convey the prohibited article. The trial is ongoing.