Footage shows the moment a gang used a drone to deliver illegal items into prison.
Seven people have been jailed for more than 30 years for organising 20 drone flights over the ground of HMP Risley, in Warrington, between August and December 2020. The drones were spotted delivering packages containing illicit items, including illegal drugs, mobile phones and SIM cards.
Evidence gathered revealed that Charlie Swann, 26, and Aaron Dodd, 31, both from Liverpool and were inmates at the prison, were responsible for collecting the drone packages and then selling the items inside. The rest of the gang, Thurlus Smith, 33, Matthew Cooke, 33, Katie Bickerton, 22, and Daniel Johnson, 28 and Nicole Sims, 27, were responsible for purchasing and supplying the items.
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They flew drones into the prison and managed payments totalling tens of thousands of pounds. A drug expert witness estimates that the value of the drugs involved was between £347,000 and £1,700,000.
CCTV taken from one of the incidents shows a drone with a package suspended underneath it, hovering outside the window of a cell, before a prisoner is then seen taking possession of the package through his cell window and the drone then disappears.
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."
The five men and two women responsible for the activity appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday 30 June where they were sentenced to the following:
Thurlus Smith, 33, of Waldrons Lane, Crewe, conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs and list B articles into a prison - 6 years and 1 month.
Matthew Cooke, 33, of Grove Court, Alsager, conspiracy to supply class B drugs and list B articles into a prison -2 years, 5 months.
Katie Bickerton, 22, of Barnabas Avenue, Crewe, conspiracy to supply list B articles into a prison and possessing criminal property - 19 months, 2 year suspended sentence.
Daniel Johnson, 28,of Woodside Avenue, Alsager, conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs and list B articles into a prison and possessing criminal property - 6 years, 5 months.
Nicole Sims, 27, of Lawton Road, Alsager, possessing criminal property - 9 months.
Charlie Swann, 26, of Rumford Street, Liverpool, conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs and list B articles into a prison - 7 years, 10 months.
Aaron Dodd, 31, of HMP Altcourse, Liverpool, conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs and list B articles into a prison - 7 years, 10 months.
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