This was the brazen moment a gang used a drone to deliver illicit goods to a prison near Greater Manchester. Illegal drugs, mobile phones and SIM cards were carried onto the grounds of HMP Risley, in Warrington, by a drone on more than 20 occasions in five months.
CCTV footage shows a drone with a package suspended underneath flying above the prison. It then hovers outside a cell window, before a prisoner takes possession of the package.
An investigation revealed that two inmates were collecting the items and selling them inside the prison. Now members of the gang responsible have been locked up after appearing at Liverpool Crown Court last Friday (June 30).
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The court heard how a string of drone flights took place at the prison from August to December 2020. After prison officers spotted the drones flying over, Cheshire Police and staff at HMP Risley conducted an extensive joint investigation.
It uncovered an organised crime group which was operating on both sides of the prison walls. Charlie Swann, 26, and Aaron Dodd, 31, were responsible for collecting the drone packages and selling the items inside the prison.
The rest of the gang were responsible for purchasing and supplying the items, flying them into the prison and managing payments totalling tens of thousands of pounds. Drugs involved were estimated to be worth between £347,000 and £1.7 million.
At 10.26pm on September 28, 2020, a drone flight was reported over the prison. The following day, prison officers conducted a cell search, where a package containing heroin, cannabis, two iPhones and nine SIM cards was found.
Swann's cell was also searched, with four micro mobile phones seized. But the gang's activity increased on October 15, 2020, with another drone sighted within the prison’s walls and captured on CCTV.
A final drone was spotted with a package over C wing at HMP Risley on December 28, 2020. A prisoner was seen guiding the package into their cell window using a broom handle on CCTV.
The drone left the area before returning 20 minutes later with another package, when the prisoner was again seen using the broom to get the package into his cell. Cheshire Police says that following a detailed investigation, officers searched the homes of three men and two women who were involved in the operation, on January 13 this year.
They recovered various items including class A and B drugs, cash, mobile phones and four drones. Officers also discovered that there had been financial transactions between the five people on behalf of the organised crime group, totalling tens of thousands of pounds.
After gathering a catalogue of evidence all seven defendants were charged with and pleaded guilty to their involvement in the case. In court last Friday, they were handed the following sentences:
Katie Bickerton, 22, of Barnabas Avenue, Crewe - 19 months in prison, suspended for two years, for conspiracy to supply list B articles into a prison and possessing criminal property
- Matthew Cooke, 33, of Grove Court, Alsager - two years and five months in prison for conspiracy to supply class B drugs and list B articles into a prison
Aaron Dodd, 31, of HMP Altcourse, Liverpool - seven years and 10 months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs and list B articles into a prison
- Daniel Johnson, 28, of Woodside Avenue, Alsager - six years and five months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs and list B articles into a prison and possessing criminal property
- Nicole Sims, 27, of Lawton Road, Alsager - nine months, suspended for 18 months, for possessing criminal property
Thurlus Smith, 33, of Waldrons Lane, Crewe - six years and one month in prison for conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs and list B articles into a prison
- Charlie Swann, 26, of Rumford Street, Liverpool - seven years and 10 months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs and list B articles into a prison.
Following the sentencing Detective Sergeant Mark Naylor, of Cheshire Police Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “This is a fantastic result, not only have we removed seven members of a dangerous organised crime group, but we have stopped the supply of a large quantity of class A and B drugs as well as other prohibited items circulating within our prisons.
“This result could not have been achieved without the support of officers at HMP Risley, without their cooperation, we would not have been able to bring these individuals to face justice. While this gang is behind bars, our fight against illegal drugs and organised crime continues and as part of this we need support from local residents.
"We need the public to be our eyes and ears and to come forward with information regarding drug dealing in the areas they live in. If you have any information about illegal drug activity or any other criminal activity taking place, please report it to us on 101, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, and we will do the rest.”
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