Four people sentenced for smuggling drug-filled drones into prisons

Four people, including a former Staffordshire police officer, have been sentenced in connection with the smuggling of contraband into prisons using drones.

The incidents took place throughout 2021 and 2022 when drones containing prohibited items were “flown-to-order” into HMP Onley in Northamptonshire and HMP Gartree in Leicestershire.

An investigation was launched by Northamptonshire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Team, assisted by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, which uncovered that these drones contained Class A and B drugs, spice, tobacco, mobile phones and other contraband.

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

Four people were identified as suspects and subsequently arrested. They were:

• Peter King, aged 53
• Former Staffordshire Police detective constable Clare Davenport, aged 52
• Kent George, aged 63
• Mervyn Foster, aged 46

At Coventry Crown Court last August, King pleaded guilty to conspiring to bring/throw/convey a List A prohibited article into/out of a prison, conspiring to bring/throw/convey a List B prohibited article into/out of a prison, and conspiring to acquire/use/possess criminal property.

Kent and Foster were found guilty of the same offences following a trial which ended at Coventry Crown Court last September.

Davenport pleaded guilty at Coventry Crown Court in August to conspiring to acquire/use/possess criminal property.

Earlier this month (June 4) at Wolverhampton Crown Court, King was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, George was sentenced to five years and six months in prison, and Foster was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison.

Davenport was sentenced at the same court today (June 17) to two years in prison suspended for two years and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Lead investigator, Detective Sergeant Gareth Askew, said: “This was a sophisticated operation that sought to exploit technology to undermine the safety and stability of our prison system. These individuals showed a complete disregard for the law and the harm that drugs and other contraband cause within custodial environments.

“Through a detailed and determined investigation, we were able to identify those responsible and bring them before the courts. 

“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.

“This was a very complex investigation involving a number of agencies and I am really pleased that not only did we stop these drone drops from happening, but that the people responsible have been brought to justice.”

Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, Lord Timpson said: “Criminals who think they can exploit our prisons from the sky should be in no doubt – we will track you down and you will face the full force of the law. I thank our prison staff and policing partners for their work on this operation and bringing those responsible to justice.

“Smuggling drugs and weapons into jails doesn't just break the law, it undermines the rehabilitation of prisoners and puts lives at risk. That’s why we are backing our hard-working and diligent staff who help bring these criminals to justice with a £40 million security investment including new anti-drone measures to crack down on contraband entering our prisons.”

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