A prison watchdog supervisor, Helen Spree, has been sentenced to five years and three months for engaging in inappropriate relationships with prisoners, including sharing explicit messages and smuggling contraband into the facility. Spree, 63, developed a romantic involvement with Dylan Westall, a convicted killer, and confessed her love to another inmate while serving on the independent monitoring board at HMP Liverpool.

The court heard that Spree misused her position by providing prisoners with sensitive information, such as details of searches, officer deployments, and impending police actions. She also facilitated the smuggling of prohibited items, including mobile phones, cannabis, and other contraband, into the prison. Judge Neil Flewitt KC emphasized that Spree’s actions were not isolated incidents but rather a pattern of deliberate misconduct over an extended period.

Despite acknowledging that Spree may have been influenced by others, the judge highlighted her awareness of the risks involved in her actions and the calculated nature of her offenses. Spree’s behavior was described as sophisticated and premeditated, earning her the nickname “the prisoner’s version of Deliveroo.” The court emphasized that she willingly engaged in misconduct and was not coerced by her co-defendants.

Spree’s sentencing marks the culmination of a case that exposed serious breaches of trust and ethical standards within the prison oversight system. The court’s decision serves as a warning about the consequences of abusing authority and engaging in illicit activities within the criminal justice system.