A 23-year-old female prison officer, Isabelle Dale, has been accused of having a sexual relationship with convicted robber Shahid Sharif at HMP Coldingley in the UK, the court heard. Two inmates allegedly acted as lookouts during the encounters.
The alleged affair reportedly lasted from September 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, ending when Sharif, three years into a 12-year sentence, was transferred to HMP Swaleside in Kent after the relationship came to light. Dale is also accused of having a sexual relationship with another inmate, Connor Money, 28, who was serving nine years for causing a fatal car crash while fleeing police at 147mph.
Dale, from Portsmouth, began working as a prison officer in September 2021 and faces additional allegations of smuggling drugs into HMP Swaleside.
On Monday, she appeared at Southwark Crown Court charged with two counts of misconduct in public office related to her relationships with Sharif and Money, and conspiracy to smuggle contraband.
During one incident on July 19, 2022, Dale was seen entering the prison’s multi-faith room with Sharif for four minutes, with two inmates reportedly acting as lookouts. The room lacks CCTV coverage, though she was observed adjusting her belt after leaving. Police later found flirty messages and photos between Dale and Sharif, and she reportedly transferred £100 to him via the “email a prisoner” system.
After Sharif’s transfer to HMP Swaleside, Dale visited him three times and was seen on CCTV embracing and kissing him. She is also alleged to have helped smuggle “spice”-laced envelopes into his new prison, operated Sharif’s drug-dealing Snapchat account, and sourced synthetic cannabis from an associate in Brighton named Lilea Sallis.
Police discovered drug-smuggling paraphernalia in Dale’s car, along with an engagement ring reportedly given to her by Sharif. Sharif has already pleaded guilty to conspiring to convey drugs into prison.
Prosecutor Kieran Brand stated that the sexual relationship between Dale and Sharif led to her involvement in smuggling contraband into prison. Investigators also found a framed photo of Dale and Sharif in her home and love letters and provocative photographs in Sharif’s cell.
Phone evidence showed Dale had another sexual relationship with a second inmate and had communicated with additional prisoners via illegally held mobile phones. She also discussed plans to collect spice-soaked envelopes for sale inside prison.
Dale denies all charges, while Sallis also denies conspiracy to convey prohibited items. The trial, which began on Monday, is expected to last two weeks.
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