After having extramarital affairs with two prisoners and planning to smuggle drug-soaked envelopes into a Kent jail, a former prison guard was imprisoned.
While working at HMP Coldingley in Surrey, Isabelle Dale, 23, developed romantic feelings for inmates Connor Money and Shahid Sharif. Judge Christopher Hehir accused Dale of using her weaknesses as “a shield and an excuse” for her behavior, claiming that she had been “swearing them undying love, saying she wanted to be with both of them on the outside.”.
For two counts of misconduct in a public office between September 2021 and December 2022 and one count of conspiring to bring a List A article into prison, Dale was sentenced to three and a half years in prison by Southwark Crown Court. For the smuggling scheme, Sharif, who is presently detained at HMP Wandsworth, and co-conspirator Lilea Sallis were also imprisoned.
The court heard that within months of Sharif beginning her job at Coldingley, Dale and she got engaged. Although the judge stated he was unable to reach a conclusion on that particular allegation, the prosecution claimed the two had a close relationship and that s£×ual contact occurred in the prison chapel. Colleagues had “obviously clocked on to what was going on,” he continued, and messages revealed a “clearly s¢×ual relationship.”
For “extremely v!0lent r0bbery of a jewellers on the south coast,” Sharif was incarcerated for 12 years and 10 months. A photo of the couple “spliced together” with a white heart and a date thought to signify their engagement was found during a search of Dale’s house.
Judge Hehir told Dale: “I have concluded that unfortunately you are a thoroughly devious and untruthful and manipulative young woman… I suspect you actually joined the prison service with a view to becoming involved in criminal activities with prisoners.” He said she sought validation through relationships with inmates despite being fully aware of “the risks and dangers relating to corruption.”
Dale also passed sensitive information to Money during a separate intimate relationship. When Money expressed concern about losing a mobile phone in a cell search, the judge noted that Dale responded: “don’t worry, security aren’t too hot on you,” rather than reporting him.
The smuggling plot involved envelopes dipped in spice being sent into HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey. A postal strike forced a change of plan, with Dale expected to travel to Brighton to collect the envelopes from Sallis. The judge said Sallis pulled out due to a dispute with Sharif over prices and social media posts. “I don’t think she had a fit of conscience… but I think that’s why her enthusiasm cooled,” he remarked.
