Ex-detective sentenced over prison drone drug drops

A former detective constable and three other people have been sentenced after they were found guilty of smuggling contraband into prisons using drones.

Drones containing prohibited items were flown into HMP Onley in Northamptonshire and HMP Gartree in Leicestershire throughout 2021 and 2022, a court heard.

On Wednesday, former Staffordshire Police Det Con Clare Davenport was handed two years in prison suspended for two years and 150 hours of unpaid work at Birmingham Crown Court.

The sentencing followed a hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 4 June at which Peter King, Kent George and Mervyn Foster were each handed jail terms for their roles in the enterprise.

King was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, George to five years and six months in prison and Foster to seven years and three months in prison.

Northamptonshire Police said packages inside the drones contained Class A and B drugs, alongside tobacco, mobile phones and other contraband.

One package, which was recovered by a prison officer in August 2021, contained heroin with a prison value of £22,400 and cannabis worth £15,300.

King pleaded guilty in August to conspiring to bring, throw, and or convey List A and List B prohibited articles into or out of prison, and conspiring to acquire, use or possess criminal property.

Davenport, 51, pleaded guilty in August to the same offences.

George, 63, and Foster, 45, were found guilty of the same offences after a trial which concluded last year.

Lead investigator, Det Sgt Gareth Askew, said: "These individuals showed a complete disregard for the law and the harm that drugs and other contraband cause within custodial environments.

"Let this case send a clear message to anyone thinking of engaging in similar behaviour - we will identify you, we will investigate you, and you will face serious consequences.

"No matter how sophisticated you believe your methods are, you are not beyond our reach."

A gross misconduct hearing held by Staffordshire Police on 3 August 2023 had concluded that Davenport would have been dismissed if she had not already retired.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.