Two prison officers have been warned that they may face jail time following an admission that they maintained relationships with inmate brothers who were involved in a drugs operation worth £3 million, The Daily Mail and The Sun reported.
Jai Gascoyne, aged 25, and Elle Walton, 27, were employed at Buckley Hall Prison in Rochdale. Both of them pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office because of their relationships with inmates, brothers Haq Nawaz, 32, and Dil Nawaz, 30.
The Nawaz brothers were in charge of a £3 million operation dealing with the distribution of crack cocaine and heroin. They received jail sentences of 13 years and 10 months and 12 years, respectively, in September 2023.
Elle Walton dated Haq Nawaz. On the other hand, Gascoyne was also communicating through the telephone with a prisoner, Michael Haigh.
Both officers were put on bail following their pleas at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday. According to Judge Sarah Johnston, it does not mean that bail would indicate their sentences. All options were open in this case; sentencing would take place on August 7th.
The Nawaz brothers are being blamed for initiating the relationships and for encouraging and aiding the criminal behavior. Their hearing is scheduled on July 7th at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.
The three brothers, along with one more brother, Asim Nawaz, led a crime gang that dominated many drug dealers and runners in the street-level drug dealing business.
