HMP Berwyn officer jailed for smuggling alcohol into prison

Matthew Roberts, of Parkfield Road in Broughton, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Friday alongside co-defendant Sean Roberts, of Alnwick Drive in Ellesmere Port.

The court heard that on March 3, 2020, 26-year-old Matthew Roberts was a serving prison officer at HMP Berwyn, and 28-year-old Sean Roberts was an inmate at the jail.

Matthew Roberts drew attention to himself, having appeared to want to be alone during his shift, and was then seen carrying a rucksack on one of the wings.

HMP Berwyn (Image: Staff)

CCTV footage was checked, and security realised he'd taken the bag to Sean Roberts' cell.

Emmalyne Downing, prosecuting, explained that the cell was searched, and the inmate admitted immediately that two phones and tobacco would be found.

They were - along with cigarette papers, cannabis, two bottles of alcohol similar to vodka and more than 80 sheets of paper laced with spice.

It was then discovered that this hadn't been Matthew Roberts' first incident of suspicious behaviour - with six more such occasions being identified on CCTV between February 10 and March 1.

He was arrested and his car was searched - as was his bedroom at his mother's house where he resides.

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Officers found £13,000 in cash, as well as his phone - which showed dozens of instances of contacting the two mobiles discovered in the cell at Berwyn.

Matthew Roberts had admitted at a previous hearing that he had conveyed a prohibited article into the prison (alcohol) and that he had acquired criminal property, namely the cash.

When his co-accused admitted possession with intent to supply class B drugs, being concerned in the supply of class B, and two counts of unauthorised possession of a phone in prison on Friday, Judge Rhys Rowland proceeded to sentence the pair.

But not before expressing his disbelief at the length of time it had taken police to progress the investigation against the defendants.

"What on earth are they playing at?" he asked.

"This sort of delay is obscene and brings the whole process into disrepute.

"We're just shy of three years now - I with officers would understand that the court has to reflect this sort of delay [in the sentence]. It's not right."

Nicholas Williams, defending Sean Roberts, said while this type of crime would normally call for an immediate jail term by way of a deterrent to others - his client's position was "exceptional."

He explained: "Mr Roberts served 10 years and four months, and was released from custody on July 5 last year.

"He's totally turned his life around; he's in stable accommodation, he's in full time employment, he has a full time partner, there have been no breaches and he has kept all appointments.

"He has made a fresh start and is now facing being returned to prison despite all of that effort.

"It would be unjust to return him back to custody now - there's nothing more he could have done to help himself."

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Simon Parry, defending Matthew Roberts, said: "Mr Roberts of course knows that as the prison officer in this case, the courts are compelled to impose a custodial sentence on officers or former officers who take items into prison in contravention of the rules and their training.

"He has a good work ethic which ultimately took him to the job at Berwyn. 

"Of course, prison officers can be susceptible to conditioning - and that's what's happened here.

"He lost his confidence and found the job draining. He gave in to what was asked of him."

He added that the delay in the case had taken its toll on his client's health - as well as leaving him unemployed due to a reluctance to seek work whilst expecting a prison sentence.

Judge Rowlands accepted both men had managed to stay out of trouble since the offences, but he concluded he was driven to the view that he couldn't draw back from an immediate custodial term.

Sean Roberts received an eight month custodial sentence, whilst Matthew Roberts received 12 months.