A corrupt prison watchdog boss who referred to herself as 'the prisoners' Deliveroo' has been jailed for five years and three months after admitting sending sexual messages to a killer inmate and smuggling drugs into HMP Liverpool.
Helen Spree, 63, was head of the independent monitoring board (IMB) at the category B prison when she engaged in illicit chats with prisoners over 20 months. She became besotted with Dylan Westall, 35, who is serving a life sentence for manslaughter for shooting a teenager in the head.
Police searching her home in August 2021 found two custom-made pillows with Westall's face and a gun embossed on them. She also had a tattoo of a bumblebee holding a love heart, with the word 'Masterpiece' underneath, a name used by Westall in a thank-you card.
Spree pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office, conspiracy to supply cannabis and conspiracy to convey prohibited items into prison. The court heard she sent explicit messages to two other prisoners, disclosed details of cell searches and officer deployments, and smuggled in cannabis, mobile phones, sim cards and phone chargers.
Judge Flewitt KC said she was 'to some extent manipulated' by prisoners who saw her as a person who could be turned to their advantage. He accepted she was 'susceptible' due to a personal life of 'abuse and trauma', as described by her barrister.
Westall received a 12-month sentence for plotting to smuggle drugs and other items, to be served in addition to his 22-year life sentence.
