A prison worker smuggled drugs into jail and turned her home into a 'safehouse' for a multi-million pound drug gang. The Liverpool Echo reports that Megan Woodham 'formed a relationship' with an inmate whilst employed as a health worker.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the 30-year-old used her job to conceal the shipments of drugs which she then handed over to inmate Daniel Doran. The mother also used her home in Wigan as a "safehouse" for a gang involved in the supply of millions of pounds of cocaine.
The court previously heard that Doran was a serving prisoner at HMP Risley in Warrington between December 2021 and February 2022. Meanwhile, Woodham was employed as a health worker in the jail.
David Watson, prosecuting, described how the duo, together with co-defendants Kelsey Higgins and John Butler were "involved in the supply of a very large quantity of high purity cocaine". The inmate had access to a mobile phone while behind bars and "organised the moving of cocaine from location to location" from his cell "under the noses of authorities".
Woodham is reported to have "formed some sort of relationship" with the 32-year-old through her work and would "willingly assist him by allowing her home address to be used for the storage of parcels" of drugs. Meanwhile, Higgins was described as a close associate of Doran's cousin, Butler.
Butler was arrested while travelling to his home in possession of 10kg of cocaine last year. The illicit substances obtained from his car by Merseyside Police had an estimated street value of up to a million pounds.
This huge drugs seizure sparked an investigation by authorities, with Butler's phone revealing his communications with co-conspirators. He was described as having been "used to carry out criminal tasks" by Doran.
The probe also uncovered a "separate agreement" between Woodham and Doran, in which she "agreed to assist him by taking delivery of packages of ketamine from his criminal associates". She then smuggled these drugs into Risley prison, going undetected due to her position, and handed them over to the inmate.
However, she was eventually caught out when the health worker was observed on CCTV in HMP Risley alone in the D wing of the prison. This is where Doran was housed and the mum was seen in footage carrying a bag which she "would not normally be expected to have taken onto the wing".
The camera footage showed Woodham approaching the inmates cell before leaning into it, "in all likelihood, passing Doran a package of drugs". Both then "took a keen interest in the location of the prison officers immediate afterwards".
Doran, Higgins and Woodham were then all arrested on Valentine's Day last year and gave no comment under interview. Woodham has no previous conviction
Carmel Wilde described the single mother as having a "caring nature", saying in her mitigation: "She served as a healthcare assistant for some 12 years, including through the traumatic covid times. It has all been ruined now in a devastating way with very serious offences.
"Clearly her family and friends remain in shock. Ms Woodham took the job in Risley, but became easy prey to sophisticated criminals.
"She was in a position of trust, but I invite your honour to take into account her vulnerability to hardened criminals." For her crimes, Woodham was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and ketamine.
The mother burst into tears after being jailed for six years then turned to members of her family in the public gallery and said: "I love you."
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