A 23-year-old prison officer broke down in tears after a judge warned her she faces a substantial jail term for conducting sexual relationships with two inmates and smuggling drugs into prison.
Brazen Affairs Behind Bars
Isabelle Dale, who was just 19 or 20 when the offences began, was convicted of two counts of misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to convey a prohibited article into prison. The court heard how she engaged in a sexual relationship with convicted robber Shahid Sharif, 33, using the multi-faith prayer room at HMP Coldingley in Surrey because it lacked CCTV coverage.
Dale posted two other inmates as lookouts while she and Sharif used the prayer room for sexual encounters. On one occasion, they were seen entering the room together and leaving after four minutes, with Dale appearing to readjust her belt.
The officer's infatuation with Sharif, whose nickname was 'Sneaks', extended to getting his nickname tattooed on the back of her neck. She called herself 'Miss Sneaky' and displayed a framed photograph of them above her bed.
Drug Smuggling Operation
After Sharif was transferred to another prison, Dale maintained contact through phone calls and the 'email a prisoner' system. She also sent him money and paid him social visits where CCTV captured them kissing and hugging.
The relationship took a more serious criminal turn when Dale began smuggling synthetic cannabis, known as 'Spice', into the prison. She soaked love letters in liquid form of the drug, using special paper designed to conceal the substance from prison x-ray machines.
Prosecutors revealed Sharif had taught her the method, boasting he could make approximately £1,600 per envelope and telling her there was 'big bread' to be made selling Spice in prison.
Dale used Sharif's drug-dealing Snapchat account to source the drugs from an associate, 27-year-old Lilea Sallis, making collections in Brighton. Sallis was also convicted on the same smuggling charge.
Second Relationship Uncovered
While involved with Sharif, Dale was simultaneously in a sexual relationship with Connor Money, 28, who was serving nine years for killing his best friend in a high-speed police chase.
Their relationship came to light when police arrested Dale and examined her phone, discovering explicit messages between them. In one exchange, Money asked when he would 'feel them sexy lips around my hard d*ck', to which Dale replied: 'When you know you want me and only me lol xx'.
Police also found messages with at least two other prisoners on Dale's device.
Dale's Defence and Conviction
Dale denied having sex with either inmate, admitting only to 'phone sex' with Sharif. She told jurors she gravitated toward inmates' affection because colleagues mocked her extensive tattoos.
She claimed Sharif regularly 'degraded' her about her body, leading her to undergo bum-enhancing surgery on his instructions. The procedure was botched, resulting in septic abscesses.
Regarding Money, Dale asserted she only sent flirtatious messages to appease him after he threatened to stab her and said he hated her.
Both Dale and Sallis were granted unconditional bail ahead of sentencing. The judge told them: 'You have been convicted of very grave offences indeed. I can see no alternative to a substantial custodial sentence.'
