Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Friday 21st March 2025, at 17:45hrs
A criminal gang, including a prison nurse, has been sentenced to more than 50 years in prison for smuggling drugs and contraband into HMP Preston and HMP Lancaster Farms.
The elaborate operation, uncovered by Lancashire Police’s East Exploitation Team, involved a variety of sophisticated methods, including drone drops, concealed items in children’s clothing, and exploitation of hospital visits.
Kiera Burton, a prison nurse at HMP Preston, was a key figure in the operation.
Her involvement was exposed when she was stopped and searched upon entering the prison, revealing drugs and SIM cards.
Subsequent raids on her home and vehicle uncovered further evidence, including shoes with hidden compartments, mobile phones, and cash.
Burton was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison.
The gang employed several methods to smuggle contraband. Drones were used to drop parcels of drugs into prison yards, and inmates’ feigning illness were taken to hospitals where they retrieved pre-placed packages of drugs and phones from toilets.
Evidence also revealed drugs being concealed in children’s clothing during prison visits.
The investigation began by tracing the drug supply of Stinton Glover and Eric Taylor.
Phone records linked Glover to inmates at Lancaster Farms, leading to the discovery of a wider network coordinated by prisoners Jonathan Royal and Danny Ryder.
The breakdown of sentencing for the 15 individuals involved:
* Eric Taylor (37): Four years three months
* Stinton Glover (31): Five years
* David Leach (31): Five years 10 months
* Oliver Howlett (34): Nine months
* Jonathan Royal (31): Seven years 11 months
* Deborah Ingram (52): One year two months
* Katie Walter (21): One year four months
* Keira Burton (33): One year eight months
* Jamie Whelan (28): Two years three months
* Daniel Ryder (31): Six years
* Ryan Pickering (30): Four years six months
* Sean Allmen (36): One year eight months
* Sean Mortimer (44): Five years 10 months
* Michael Royal (33): Two years nine months
The charges included conspiracy to convey List A and List B articles into prisons, possession with intent to supply various drugs, and related offences.
List A articles include drugs such as cocaine, MDMA, cannabis, ketamine, and spice, while List B articles include mobile phones, charging equipment, and SIM cards.
Detective Sergeant Stu Peall of the East Exploitation Team stated,
“This was a sophisticated criminal gang involving both serving prisoners and people on the outside smuggling drugs and other contraband like mobile phones and sim cards on a regular basis into prisons using a variety of different methods.
We will continue to work with our partners in the prison service partners to tackle drug supply and target anyone involved.”
He further added, “Criminals who think they can carry on with their illicit operations behind bars should think again – this case shows that we will dismantle criminal gangs operating inside and outside of prison, disrupt their activity and pursue offenders and put them before the courts.”
The investigation was part of Lancashire Police’s Operation Warrior, aimed at tackling serious and organized crime in the region.
Anyone with information about drug activity is encouraged to contact Lancashire Police at 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org.
In cases of immediate danger, individuals are urged to call 999.
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