A chilling contract killing inside Britain's prison system has been exposed, following the sentencing of the hitman who assassinated a dedicated prison officer.
The Deadly Betrayal at HMP Frankland
Paul Robson, 32, was coldly executed for doing his job with integrity. The senior officer at the notorious HMP Frankland had uncovered and reported an illicit relationship between a female colleague and a dangerous inmate, an act that would seal his fate.
For merely upholding the rules, Robson was marked for death in a brutal plot orchestrated from behind bars.
A Calculated Assassination
Gunman Aaron Brown, 26, has now been jailed for life with a minimum of 35 years for carrying out the ruthless hit. On the morning of February 13th, 2022, Brown lay in wait outside Robson's home in Shotton Colliery, County Durham.
As the 43-year-old officer left for work, Brown emerged and fired multiple shots at point-blank range from a handgun equipped with a silencer. Robson, a father, was pronounced dead at the scene in what prosecutors described as a "professional, planned and targeted execution."
The Corrupt Relationship That Sparked the Murder
The court heard how the murder was ordered in retaliation for Robson exposing a forbidden relationship between prison officer Lindsey Blake and convicted drug dealer and gang member James Lewis.
Blake, 30, has since been jailed for two years after admitting misconduct in public office for her relationship with Lewis, who was serving a sentence at the Category A prison.
Justice Served But Questions Remain
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Baker of Durham Police confirmed the murder was a direct result of Robson "doing the right thing" in reporting the inappropriate relationship.
While Brown will spend decades behind bars, this case raises serious questions about safety for prison staff and the reach of criminal networks operating from within high-security facilities.
The Prison Officers' Association has called for urgent reviews of security protocols, stating that no officer should ever pay with their life for upholding prison rules.
