A former head of the independent monitoring board (IMB) at HMP Liverpool has been jailed for five years and three months after admitting to sending sexual messages to a killer inmate and smuggling drugs into the prison. Helen Spree, 63, pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office, conspiracy to supply cannabis, and conspiracy to convey prohibited items into prison.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Spree, who had been the IMB chair since January 2021, became besotted with Dylan Westall, 35, who is serving a life sentence for manslaughter. She sent explicit messages to Westall and two other prisoners, disclosed details of cell searches and officer deployments, and smuggled in cannabis, mobile phones, sim cards, and phone chargers. In one message, she referred to herself as “the prisoner’s version of Deliveroo”.
Police searching her home in August 2021 found two custom-made pillows with Westall’s face and a gun embossed on them, as well as a tattoo on her chest of a bumblebee holding a love heart, with the word “Masterpiece” underneath – a name used for her by Westall. The court heard she had transferred £100 to Westall and that her actions involved a high level of planning and sophistication.
Judge Flewitt KC said Spree had seen her role as an opportunity to be a force for good but allowed herself to be manipulated by prisoners. Her barrister, Arthur Gibson, told the court she had a history of abuse and trauma, which made her susceptible to flattery. Spree had no previous convictions and denied any direct physical sexual activity with the prisoners.
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.
