A mum has labelled her son 'disgusting' after she was convinced to launder drug money for him whilst he was in jail. Valerie Doran, 54, has been found guilty of money laundering after a trial after texts showed her involvement in the scheme
Her son, Daniel Doran, was a prisoner at HMP Risley in Warrington when he became involved in drug smuggling between December 2021 and February 2022. 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.
They were caught when Higgins was arrested while travelling home with 10kg of cocaine on January 8 last year, LiverpoolECHO reports. This had a street value of up to £1 million and sparked an investigation by Merseyside police with Butler's phone revealing texts between the co-conspirators.
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Valerie Doran, of Hall Lane, Liverpool, 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” [sic]. On January 16, the conversation continued, and Valerie Doran confirmed a further £90 had gone into the account.
In sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court, 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.
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