A former prison officer has received a prison sentence after being found guilty of engaging in illicit relationships with two inmates and conspiring to import drug-soaked envelopes into a jail situated in Kent.
Isabelle Dale, 23, developed romantic ties with inmates Shahid Sharif and Connor Money during her tenure at HMP Coldingley in Surrey. Judge Christopher Hehir remarked that Dale had professed her unwavering love to both prisoners, expressing a desire to be with them outside of prison, while also accusing her of employing her vulnerabilities as a justification for her behavior.
Dale was handed a sentence of three and a half years in prison at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of misconduct in a public office from September 2021 to December 2022, and an additional count of conspiring to smuggle a List A item into the prison. Sharif, who is currently incarcerated at HMP Wandsworth, along with co-conspirator Lilea Sallis, also faced jail time for their roles in the smuggling operation.
The court was informed that Dale and Sharif became engaged shortly after she commenced her employment at Coldingley. Prosecutors disclosed that the couple had an intimate relationship, with sexual activities reportedly occurring in the prison chapel area, despite the judge indicating he could not rule on that specific claim. He noted that the correspondence between them revealed a clear sexual relationship, and it was apparent to their colleagues what was transpiring.
Sharif was serving a 12-year and 10-month sentence for a highly violent jewelry store robbery on the south coast. A search conducted at Dale's residence uncovered a photo of the couple edited together with a white heart and a date that is believed to signify their engagement.
Judge Hehir addressed Dale, stating, “I have concluded that you are a thoroughly devious, untruthful, and manipulative young woman… I suspect your motivations for joining the prison service included engagement in illicit activities with inmates.” He emphasized that she sought affirmation through her connections with prisoners, despite fully comprehending the risks associated with corruption.
Dale was also found to have communicated sensitive information to Money during a separate romantic involvement. The judge mentioned an instance where Money expressed concern about a mobile phone being found during a cell search, to which Dale reassured him: “don’t worry, security isn’t too keen on you,” instead of alerting the authorities.
The drug smuggling scheme entailed envelopes soaked in spice intended to be sent into HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey. However, due to a postal strike, a new plan emerged, requiring Dale to travel to Brighton to collect the envelopes from Sallis. The judge remarked that Sallis withdrew from the arrangement due to a disagreement with Sharif over costs and social media posts, suggesting that while this wasn’t a crisis of conscience for her, it did dampen her enthusiasm.
Dale's lawyer argued that her actions were influenced by mental health issues including depression, anxiety, unstable personality disorder, and PTSD, claiming she was “ill-equipped” to function in the prison setting. However, the judge dismissed the notion that these factors could justify her conduct.
Sallis, 28, received a two and a half year sentence, whereas Sharif, who acknowledged the conspiracy charges, was sentenced to 27 months. Dale has since opted to resign from her position in the prison service.
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