Prison Officer Jailed for Smuggling £35,000 of Drugs to Inmate Partner

A female prison officer has been jailed after being caught smuggling £35,000 worth of drugs into a prison for an inmate with whom she had developed a romantic relationship.

Olivia Johnson, 27, was found in possession of 88 sheets of paper soaked in the synthetic drug spice during a random search at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk in September 2022. The drugs were intended for Javelle Taylor, a prisoner serving a 12-year sentence for firearms offences.

Johnson, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after admitting her involvement. Investigators uncovered messages between her and Taylor expressing mutual affection, along with financial records showing payments totalling £14,871 from individuals linked to him.

During sentencing, Recorder Richard Christie KC said Johnson's actions "strike at the heart of the integrity of the criminal justice system."

He added: "Trafficking drugs and mobile phones into prisons undermines order and discipline, poses risks to the safety of inmates, staff, and visitors, and supports continued criminal activity both inside and outside the prison walls. It also hampers the rehabilitation of offenders."

Johnson had worked at HMP Highpoint for three years. When stopped for the search, she reportedly attempted to evade detection by heading toward a restroom, knowing she was carrying the drug-laced documents.

The judge noted that while Johnson claimed the offences were committed due to her emotional involvement with Taylor, financial motives also played a role. "I take the view that it's a bit of both," he said.

The court heard that Johnson was in an emotionally dependent relationship with Taylor. A search of her vehicle, a red Toyota Aygo, revealed a black iPhone 13 containing incriminating text messages, including repeated declarations of love and explicit references to drug smuggling.

Her defence counsel, Jimmy Ogunshakin, told the court that Johnson was remorseful and had been too afraid to come forward.

The case highlights ongoing concerns around inappropriate relationships between prison staff and inmates. In recent years, at least 30 female prison officers have been dismissed over similar affairs.

The Johnson Partnership, Derby