Former Prison Officer Receives Three and a Half Year Sentence for Inappropriate Conduct
A former prison officer has been handed a significant custodial sentence after being found guilty of forming illicit relationships with two inmates and conspiring to smuggle prohibited substances into a Kent prison facility. Isabelle Dale, aged 23 from Cosham, Portsmouth, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday for multiple serious offences committed during her tenure within the prison service.
Devious Conduct and Manipulative Behaviour Uncovered
Judge Christopher Hehir delivered a damning assessment of Dale's character during sentencing proceedings, describing her as "a thoroughly devious and untruthful and manipulative young woman". The judge expressed his belief that Dale may have joined the prison service with premeditated intentions to engage in criminal activities with prisoners, rather than upholding her professional responsibilities.
Dale's misconduct spanned from September 2021 to December 2022 and involved two separate counts of misconduct in a public office, alongside one count of conspiring to convey a List A article into prison. Her actions represented a fundamental breach of the trust placed in prison officers to maintain security and order within correctional facilities.
Romantic Entanglements with Dangerous Inmates
The court heard detailed evidence about Dale's inappropriate relationships with two prisoners serving substantial sentences. She became romantically involved with convicted robber Shahid Sharif, who was serving a 12-year and 10-month sentence for an "extremely violent robbery of a jewellers on the south coast". Their relationship progressed to the point of engagement, with Dale displaying a "rather garish" picture of the couple above her bed during police searches of her residence.
Text message evidence presented during the trial confirmed that Dale and Sharif maintained a sexual relationship, with indications that other prison officers had become aware of their inappropriate connection. Dale also developed an intimate relationship with another inmate, Connor Money, and provided him with sensitive security information that compromised prison protocols.
Elaborate Drug Smuggling Conspiracy Unravelled
Following Sharif's transfer to HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey, Dale became involved in a sophisticated plot to smuggle synthetic cannabinoid (commonly known as spice) into the prison facility. The conspiracy involved drug-soaked envelopes that were intended to bypass security measures, with Sharif allegedly claiming he could generate £3,000 weekly from selling the substances within the prison.
Dale conspired with Sharif and his associate, 28-year-old Lilea Sallis, to execute the smuggling operation. She visited Sharif five times at Swaleside between September and October 2022, having fraudulently added herself to his approved visitors list by concealing her employment status. The plan ultimately failed due to a postal strike and subsequent disagreements between the conspirators about pricing and social media content.
Corruption and Compromised Security
Judge Hehir highlighted numerous examples of Dale's "thoroughly corrupt" behaviour during proceedings. She attempted to persuade Sharif's sister to smuggle a USB device into prison, communicated with his criminal associates about the movement of illicit property, and even managed his social media accounts from outside the facility. When arrested on her sixth visit to Swaleside, authorities discovered she had Sharif's street name tattooed on her neck and possessed carbon paper in her vehicle - material known for disguising contraband from x-ray detection.
The defence presented by Syam Soni argued that Dale's offending was influenced by mental health difficulties including depression, anxiety, emotionally unstable personality disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, Judge Hehir rejected these factors as sufficient justification for her actions, noting that she appeared to use her vulnerabilities "as a shield and an excuse" rather than addressing them appropriately.
Co-conspirators Receive Substantial Sentences
Shahid Sharif, who admitted conspiring to bring drugs into Swaleside prison, received a 27-month sentence to run concurrently with his existing custodial term. Lilea Sallis, who denied the charge but was convicted by a jury, was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment. Both attended proceedings alongside Dale, with Sharif appearing via video link from HMP Wandsworth where he is currently held.
The case has raised serious questions about recruitment vetting and ongoing supervision within the prison service, particularly regarding officers working in high-security environments. Dale's conduct represents one of the more egregious examples of professional misconduct uncovered in recent years, combining personal relationships with inmates alongside active participation in drug smuggling operations.
