A PRISON officer who smuggled drugs and mobile phones hidden in cereal boxes into HMP Hewell has been jailed.

West Mercia Police found Martin Mills, of Talbot Road, Bromsgrove, was at the centre of a smuggling ring following an investigation.

The 34-year-old was stopped as he entered work and was found to be smuggling items including drugs, mobile phones and SIM cards in boxes of cereal.

As the investigation continued, detectives were able to link several other people to the case, including prisoners housed on the block Mills worked on, as well as their families.

Family members of the prisoners would pay money into Mills’ bank account and he would then take the prohibited items to work for the prisoners to sell in prison.

Between May and November 2023, nine people in total, including Mills, have been sentenced for conspiracy to bring, throw and convey prohibited items into HMP Hewell in Tardebigge.

The charges included smuggling either list A items (drugs) or list B items (mobile phones and associated equipment), or both.

Mills pleaded guilty to list A and list B charges and was sentenced to four years imprisonment at Worcester Crown Court on Monday (November 13). 

DC Claire Masters, who led the investigation, said: “This has been a complicated and long-running investigation and I’m pleased that all those involved have now been brought to justice.

“Prisons should be a place of safety and the actions of Mills and his accomplices threatened that.

“Drugs have no place in prison and hinder the rehabilitation of those who are there, often when they are at their most vulnerable".

Worcester News: HMP Hewell in TardebiggeHMP Hewell in Tardebigge (Image: Newsquest)

Iain Maclachlan-Sim, aged 34, of Mason Avenue, Leamington Spa, was found guilty of list A and B charges and sentenced to 4 years for list A, and 16 months for list B. The sentences will run concurrently.

Hamza Mohumed, aged 32, of The Bentree, Coventry was found guilty of list A and list B charges and sentenced to 4 years for list A, and 16 months for list B. The sentences will run concurrently.

Tony Graham Barrett, aged 28, of Lutterworth Road, Nuneaton pleaded guilty to list A and list B charges and was sentenced to three years and two months for list A, and 10 months for list B. The sentences will run concurrently.

David Ward, aged 53, of Barker Butts Lane, Coventry, pleaded guilty to list B charges and was sentenced to one year and nine months.

Jy Kennedy, aged 30, of Kenilworth Road, Leamington Spa, pleaded guilty to list B charges and was sentenced to seven months, suspended for 12 months, and given a £250 fine.

Isiah Gill, aged 34, of Mason Road, Birmingham pleaded guilty to list B charges was sentenced to 10 months, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

Leanne Miles, aged 32, of Steinway, Coventry, was found guilty of list A and list B charges and sentenced to 12 months, suspended for 12 months for list A, and six months suspended for 12 months for list B. The sentences will run concurrently.

Ann Marie Sim, aged 52, of Mason Avenue, Leamington Spa was found guilty of list B charges and sentenced to six months, suspended for 12 months.

DC Masters added: “I hope these sentences show that we take all reports of crime seriously, regardless of who commits them and where they took place.”