Prison Officer jailed for smuggling drugs and phone

Date published: 12/09/2006

A prison officer, who smuggled drugs and a mobile phone to a convicted murderer, has been jailed for 16 months. Kate Roberts, 28, from Rochdale, admitted misconduct in a public office.

Jailing her at Preston Crown Court, Judge Christopher Cornwall said Roberts was "utterly irresponsible."

The court heard she took bags of pills and a phone to lifer Lee Burke, with whom who she developed a relationship in Garth prison, Lancashire.

Heroin was also discovered when the cell was searched.

Burke, who had sent pictures of himself to Roberts, was caught talking on the mobile in his cell.

Passing sentence, Judge Cornwall told Roberts: "The grim reality of this case is that, although you were wearing the uniform of a prison officer and were treated by everyone as a prison officer, you had gone over to the other side."