Prison officer ‘engaged in sex act with lag while inmates acted as lookouts’

Isabelle Dale, 23, is accused of engaging in a sex act with convicted robber Shahid Sharif, who was three years into a twelve-year sentence at HMP Coldingley in Surrey

A prison officer engaged in a sexual encounter with an inmate in a prayer room whilst two other prisoners stood guard, a court has heard.

Isabelle Dale, 23, stands accused of the liaison with convicted robber Shahid Sharif, who was three years into a twelve-year stretch at HMP Coldingley in Surrey.

Prosecutors allege Dale subsequently conspired with Sharif and others to smuggle envelopes soaked with synthetic cannabis, dubbed “spice”, into HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent following his transfer.

Dale – who denies the charges levelled against her – appeared today at Southwark Crown Court for the opening day of a trial anticipated to run for two weeks.

Dale allegedly operated Sharif’s drug-dealing Snapchat profile and was charged with collecting synthetic cannabis from his accomplice, Lilea Sallis, in Brighton, reports the Mirror.

Officers subsequently discovered drug-smuggling equipment in Dale’s vehicle, alongside an engagement ring, which she claimed Sharif had purchased for her. Sallis also appeared in court today beside Dale.

Opening the proceedings, prosecutor Kieran Brand stated: “This case concerns allegations of prison corruption and the smuggling into prison of drugs and telephones. At the time this indictment is concerned with, the first defendant, Isabelle Dale was a serving prison officer at HMP Coldingley.

“The prosecution case is that she was in a sexual relationship with a male named Shahid Sharif who was a serving prison inmate, initially at HMP Coldingley while Miss Dale worked there. Their intimate relationship led to Miss Dale agreeing with him to smuggle contraband, including the illegal drug ‘spice’ into the prison.

“The spice was to be supplied by the second defendant, Lilea Sallis, who was an associate of Mr Sharif. It is further alleged that Miss Dale had a sexual relationship with at least one other prisoner.”

The court was told that Dale began working for the prison service in September 2021 and was briefed on the standard ‘Counter Corruption and Reporting Wrongdoing Policy framework’.

Mr Brand stated: “On 19th July 2022, Miss Dale and Mr Sharif were seen to enter the multi-faith room located off a wing within the prison, together. They remained there for four minutes while two inmates appeared to act as lookouts.

“They both emerged from the room together and walked back towards the wing, with Miss Dale appearing to readjust her belt area on the right-hand side of her hip. The multi faith room is not covered by CCTV: the prosecution say it is clear they went in there for some form of sexual activity.”

Detectives discovered a sexually explicit text from Sharif on Dale’s mobile following the alleged incident, jurors were told. Mr Brand revealed that Dale subsequently visited Shariff on three separate occasions between September and October 2022 whilst he was held at HMP Swaleside.

“The CCTV for the social visit held on 27th September 2022 shows Miss Dale in civilian clothing embracing and kissing Mr Sharif,” he said.

Mr Brand stated that Dale sent Shariff flirtatious images through the ’email a prisoner system’ and transferred £100 across two payments whilst employed as a prison officer.

When Dale was arrested on November 1, officers discovered in her vehicle a packet of carbon paper used to conceal contraband from prison x-ray machines. Investigators also uncovered a “framed canvas” of the pair displayed above Dale’s bed in her home.

Mr Brand continued: “Once Miss Dale had been arrested and removed from HMP Swaleside, the prison conducted a search of Mr Sharif’s cell, where a quantity of love letters, as well as a number of provocative photographs from Miss Dale were recovered.”

Phone data extracted from Dale’s confiscated mobile also revealed a “physical relationship” with a second prisoner, Connor Money, at HMP Coldingley, jurors were told.

Mr Brand said: “Miss Dale refers to watching a documentary on Belmarsh about prisoners grooming staff and includes a laughing face emoji. She says ‘you maybe just wanting to use me because I’m an officer but I don’t think your like that xx’.”

He continued: “There is also evidence on Miss Dale’s phone showing that she communicated with two further prisoners via illegally held mobile phones. (She) received numerous photos of serving prisoners, as well as communicating with Mr Sharif’s relatives, all whilst employed as a serving prison officer.”

Mr Brand revealed that Sharif coached Dale on smuggling the “spice-soaked envelopes” into the jail for him to flog. The guidance included meticulous handling to dodge detection and journeys to Brighton to pick up the contraband from Sallis.

Dale, from Portsmouth, refutes two charges of misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to convey a ‘List A’ prohibited article into prison. Sallis, from East Sussex, disputes conspiracy to convey a ‘List A’ prohibited article into prison.

The trial continues.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .