Female prison officer, 23, ‘had sex with convicted robber’ | UK | News

The court heard a female prison officer had sexual intercourse with a convicted robber in the prison prayer room while two other inmates looked on. Isabelle Dale, 23, is accused of confronting prisoner Shahid Sharif, who is serving the third year of a twelve-year sentence at HMP Coldingley in Surrey.

The couple was seen entering the multi-faith room where they stayed for 3-4 minutes. Prosecutor Kieran Brand said when they left the room Dale “readjusted the arch area on the right side of his hip”. Prosecutors say Dale then conspired with Sharif and others to smuggle envelopes coated with synthetic cannabis, known as “spice”, into HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent after they were transferred.

Dale, who denied the charges against him, appeared at Southwark Crown Court yesterday, Monday, October 27, for the first day of the trial, which is expected to last two weeks.

Prosecutors allege Dale then conspired with Sharif and others to smuggle envelopes soaked in synthetic cannabis, called “spice”, into HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent following their transfer.

Dale allegedly ran Sharif’s drug-dealing Snapchat account and was tasked with collecting synthetic marijuana from his partner Lilea Sallis in Brighton.

Police later found drug trafficking paraphernalia in Dale’s car, as well as an engagement ring that Sharif said he had bought for her. Sallis also appeared in court with Dale.

Opening the case, Prosecutor Kieran Brand said: “This case concerns allegations of prison corruption and the smuggling of drugs and phones into prison. At the time of this indictment, the first defendant, Isabelle Dale, was a prison officer working at HMP Coldingley.

“The prosecution is that Ms Dale was involved in a sexual relationship with a man named Shahid Sharif, who was originally on prison duty at HMP Coldingley, while she was working there. Their close relationship led to Ms Dale colluding with him to smuggle contraband into the prison, including the illegal drug ‘spice’.”

“The spice was to be supplied by the second defendant, Lilea Sallis, who was a co-worker of Mr. Sharif. It is also alleged that Ms. Dale had sexual intercourse with at least one inmate.”

Jurors heard Dale joined the prison service in September 2021 and was briefed on the standard ‘Anti-Corruption and Reporting Abuse Policy framework’.

Mr Brand said: “On 19 July 2022, Ms Dale and Mr Sharif were seen entering the multi-faith room together in one wing of the prison. They remained there for four minutes while two inmates appeared as lookouts.

“They both left the room together and walked towards the wing, where Ms Dale was seen readjusting the belt area on the right side of her hip. The multi-faith room is not covered by CCTV: the prosecution says it was clear they had gone there for some form of sexual activity.”

The court heard investigators found a sexually explicit message from Sharif on Dale’s phone after the alleged encounter.

Mr Brand said Dale subsequently visited Shariff on three separate occasions at HMP Swaleside between September and October 2022. “CCTV from the social visit on 27 September 2022 shows Ms Dale, in plainclothes, embracing and kissing Mr Sheriff,” he said.

Mr Brand said Dale sent flirting images to the Sheriff via the “prisoners email system” and transferred £100 in exchange for two payments while working as a prison officer.

Upon Dale’s arrest on November 1, police found a pack of carbon paper in his car, which was used to hide contraband from prison x-ray machines. Investigators also found a “framed canvas” of the couple hanging above Dale’s bed in the home.

Mr Brand added: “After Ms Dale was arrested and removed from HMP Swaleside, the prison conducted a search of Mr Sheriff’s cell where a number of provocative photographs of Ms Dale were seized as well as a number of love letters.”

Jurors heard phone downloads from Dale’s seized mobile phone also revealed a “physical relationship” with a second prisoner at HMP Coldingley, Connor Money.

Mr Brand said: “Ms Dale talks about watching a documentary about inmates grooming staff at Belmarsh and includes a smiley face emoji. ‘Maybe you just want to use me because I’m a police officer but I don’t think you’re that way xx’ she says.”

He added: “There is also evidence on Ms Dale’s phone that shows she was communicating with two other inmates via illegally held mobile phones. (She) received numerous photographs of her serving inmates during her time as a prison officer and also communicating with Mr Sheriff’s relatives.”

Dale, of Portsmouth, denies two charges of misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to transport a banned ‘List A’ article into prison. Sallis, of East Sussex, denies conspiracy to carry a banned ‘A-List’ article into prison. The trial continues.