A woman called her son “disgusting” after he convinced her to launder drug money for him from behind bars.
Valerie Doran, 54, of Hall Lane was found guilty of being involved in money laundering at trial after texts revealed her involvement. A trial previously heard that Daniel Doran, also of Hall Lane in Kirkby, was a serving prisoner at HMP Risley in Warrington between December 2021 and February 2022 when he became involved in smuggling drugs.
Megan Woodham, a health worker in the jail, Kelsey Higgins and John Butler, Daniel Doran’s cousin, were all also involved in the large-scale drug smuggling operation within the prison. The group were caught by police after Butler was arrested while travelling to his home in possession of 10kg of cocaine on January 8 last year.
READ MORE: Woman sobs 'I love you' to her family as she's jailed for six years
Officers discovered a black bag in the passenger footwell which contained 10, 1kg packages of the class A drugs. These illicit substances had an estimated street value of up to a million pounds. This seizure sparked an investigation by Merseyside Police, with Butler's seized phone revealing his communications with co-conspirators.
Valerie Doran was found to have transferred a total of £1,300 in 11 transactions between November and January to her son. David Watson, prosecuting, explained that Daniel Doran had an illicit mobile phone and used it to keep track of the money being transferred.
On January 8, Daniel Doran sent his mum a message that read: “Mum I need to no about Money in bnk asap” and she replied 7 minutes later “50 in”. He then asked her to transfer money for him, and at 12.15 she responded: “Oh I will keep that money for you using my bank everyone else money for you doing things for you so it’s mine.”
Only ten minutes later, she wrote: “Sending your money don’t want dirty money in my bank talking to me as if you’re a big gangster. Who does that to there own mum ur disgusting feel ashamed”. On January 16, the conversation continued, and Valerie Doran confirmed a further £90 had gone into the account.
In sentencing, Judge Driver said: “You were exploited by your criminal son.” She was handed a 6 month sentence suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to complete 15 days of rehabilitation activities.
Daniel Doran was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine but admitted conspiracy to supply ketamine and was jailed for 15 years by Judge Stuart Driver KC. Appearing on video from HMP Altcourse, he shook his head before laughing.
Higgins was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine by a jury. He was handed 13-and-a-half years and similarly reacted by shaking his head before taking off his glasses, leaning back and smiling. Woodham, now of Ormskirk Road in Pemberton, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and ketamine and sent to prison for six years.
Butler, of Clements Way in Tower Hill, was jailed for eight years in February last year. The 27-year-old admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply.
*An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Kelsey Higgins was found in possession of cocaine on January 8, 2022. We are happy to make clear that John Butler was found with this quantity of cocaine.
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