A prison officer is facing serious charges after allegedly engaging in inappropriate sexual relationships with two inmates at the same time and plotting to smuggle drugs into a high-security prison.
Isabelle Dale, 23, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court accused of two counts of misconduct in public office. Prosecutors claim she had illicit relationships with Shahid Sharif, 33, and Connor Money, 28, while working at HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, between September 2021 and December 2022.
Each misconduct charge alleges Dale “wilfully and without reasonable excuse or justification misconducted yourself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust in the office holder by having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a serving prisoner.”
Dale, from Portsmouth, is also charged with conspiracy to bring controlled drugs into prison, alongside Sharif and 27-year-old Lilea Sallis from Brighton. Others unidentified are also alleged to be involved in the conspiracy.
In addition, Sharif faces separate charges of possessing a mobile phone while serving time at HMP Brixton and HMP Wandsworth over the same period.
District Judge Adrian Turner told Dale during the hearing: “These matters must go to the Crown Court.” Dale was granted bail and is due to appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Inner London Crown Court on 23 May.
Sharif, appearing via video link from HMP Manchester, and Sallis also face related charges and were ordered to appear at the same court on the same date.
The alleged offences are believed to involve the smuggling of illegal substances into the prison, a growing concern for authorities managing high-security facilities across the UK.
