A prison officer who smuggled drugs and mobile phones into HMP Altcourse in Liverpool has been sentenced to nine years in jail. Paul Heap, 43, admitted taking heroin, crack cocaine and 2,000 steroid tablets into the prison, concealed in fruit juice cartons.
Security staff discovered the drugs, with an estimated street value of £215,000, inside two cartons in a rucksack Heap brought into the jail on 28 June 2017. Heap, of Hartley's Village, Aintree, had worked as a prison officer for 14 years.
Sentencing Heap at Liverpool Crown Court, Judge David Aubrey QC said he had 'changed to the dark side' and become involved in 'the evil trade of drugs in prison'. The judge added that Heap had 'cast a shadow' on his colleagues and committed a 'grave breach of trust'.
The court heard that more than £9,000 in cash was found during a search of Heap's home, which he initially claimed were savings. Heap pleaded guilty to seven charges of possessing drugs with intent to supply, three counts of conveying a prohibited article, and one charge of possessing criminal property.
Andrew McInnes, defending, said a psychiatric report revealed Heap was suffering a depressive episode and had issues after witnessing a prison suicide. He also cited financial pressures as a factor in Heap's offending.
