Two prison officers have been jailed for having inappropriate relationships with two gangster brothers at HMP Buckley Hall in Rochdale. Jai Gascoyne, 25, and Elle Walton, 27, shared Valentine's cards with Dil Nawaz, 30, and Haq Nawaz, 32, who were serving long sentences for flooding the streets with up to £3m worth of class A drugs.
Judge's condemnation
Before locking them up on August 7, a judge told the women that they had trust placed in them because of their jobs, and that they had 'undermined that trust in the most devastating way you could have'.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Gascoyne ordered matching necklaces and bracelets for her and Dil Nawaz. The female defendants also received money from associates of the brothers. Their relationships did not become sexual and they did not smuggle contraband on the Nawaz's behalf.
Timeline of the relationships
Gascoyne admitted being in an inappropriate relationship with Dil Nawaz between January 20, 2024, and April 4, 2024. Walton admitted being in an inappropriate relationship with Haq Nawaz between January 21, 2024, and March 16, 2024.
Prosecuting at the hearing, Philip Hall said that Buckley Hall is a category C jail with more than 450 prisoners and about 200 staff. Gascoyne had worked there since August 2021, and Walton from January 2023.
Training and warnings
Mr Hall said the pair were friends and socialised outside of work. After starting their jobs, they both undertook security training which included modules on 'corruption prevention' and on the 'consequences of becoming personally involved with prisoners'. They later completed further training organised by the counter corruption unit. 'Elle Walton mentioned the consequences of wrongdoing could involve a prison sentence,' Mr Hall said.
Haq Nawaz and Dil Nawaz both received lengthy jail terms in 2023 for the leading roles they played in a Lancashire drugs gang. Lancashire Police said that the gang was responsible for the distribution of between £2.15m and £3.1m worth of crack cocaine and heroin over a 12 month period. The gang 'controlled an army of drug dealers and runners', the force said.
Discovery of the relationship
The brothers arrived at Buckley Hall in April 2023. An investigation was launched after the anti-corruption unit received 'intelligence'. Gascoyne was searched as she entered the prison on March 28, 2024. No contraband was found, but she was wearing two necklaces, one engraved with the letter D, and one with Arabic script.
Mr Hall said: 'Jai Gascoyne could not explain what the Arabic script meant, and she tried to explain 'D' was a reference to her dad.' The Arabic was an 'Islamic prayer for protection' from the Quran. The probe discovered Gascoyne had bought two necklaces and two bracelets on Amazon. A similar necklace and bracelet was discovered in Dil Nawaz's cell later that day.
Evidence from searches
Following the sentencing, the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit issued more information. Referencing a search of Gascoyne's car, a statement said: 'Officers found and seized the following items: A card in a sealed envelope addressed to Dil Nawaz, with his prison number and prison address. A ring in a box. A mobile phone.'
Immediately after discovering the items in Gascoyne's vehicle, officers searched the cells of the brothers. Within Dil Nawaz's cell, officers seized a Valentine's card, a necklace with 'J' on a love pendant, and a bracelet with 'J' on a love heart pendant. Within Haq Nawaz's cell, officers seized Moonpig cards, papers with phone numbers on, and a silver necklace with 'E' on a pendant.
Officers can evidence that the pendant engraved with the letter 'J' refers to Jai Gascoyne, while the pendant engraved with the letter 'E' refers to Elle Walton. The necklace recovered from Dil Nawaz was identical to a necklace worn by Gascoyne, which was engraved with the letter 'D', believed to be a reference to Dil Nawaz. Gascoyne was also found to be wearing a necklace bearing Arabic script, which was translated as Ayat al-Kursi, a verse from the Quran. As Dil Nawaz is a Muslim, this provided further evidence supporting the existence of a relationship between him and Gascoyne.
Messages and sentencing
NWROCU said that Walton's actions were discovered after her friend's phone was interrogated. Gascoyne's mobile phone was digitally extracted, unveiling not only her own corruption, but also Walton's. Between 12 February 2024 and 23 March 2024, messages between Gascoyne and Dil Nawaz talk about how in love they are as well as plans to marry as 'the prison can't do anything and it's not like she's bringing drugs in'. There are also messages between Gascoyne and Walton referring to themselves as 'Mrs N'. On 14 February 2024, Walton informed Gascoyne that Haq had asked her to be his girlfriend.
After the hearing, Detective Inspector Brian Morley, from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: 'Both Gascoyne and Walton knew their actions were corrupt and went to significant lengths to conceal their offending while continuing in their roles as prison officers. By working together to hide their crimes, they undermined the integrity and trust placed in prison staff. We welcome the sentencing of both them as well as the extended sentences imposed on the brothers involved. We would like to thank colleagues from HMPPS at HMP Buckley Hall for their support throughout this investigation. Corruption has no place in our prisons. Those who abuse their position will be identified, investigated and brought to justice. Maintaining the safety and security of our prisons remains a top priority.'
Gascoyne, of Chapel Street, Dukinfield, pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in a public office. Walton, of Gordon Street, Bacup, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in a public office. Haq Nawaz, previously of Leyland, Lancashire, and Dil Nawaz, previously of Preston, Lancashire, both pleaded guilty to encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence, namely misconduct in public office, and possessing a prohibited item in prison.
Gascoyne was sentenced to 16 months in prison. Walton was sentenced to 13 months in prison. Both will serve up to 40 per cent of the sentence behind bars. The Nawaz brothers both had a year added to their sentences. Dil Nawaz was previously sentenced to 13 years and ten months in prison, while Haq Nawaz was sentenced to 12 years for their parts in a class A drug conspiracy.
