A prison watchdog supervisor, Helen Spree, was found to have engaged in inappropriate relationships with three inmates and was discovered to possess cushions with the image of a convicted murderer. Alongside these actions, she was involved in smuggling drugs and phones into HMP Liverpool, where she served as the chair of the Independent Monitoring Board.
Describing herself as the “prison version of Deliveroo,” Spree, a former businesswoman with a background as a sales director, held a significant position within the prison system. Her misconduct spanned a 20-month period until her arrest in August 2021.
Court proceedings revealed that Spree exchanged sexually explicit messages with the inmates and had even shared intimate images and videos with them. Her involvement extended to requests for contraband items and cannabis from the prisoners, leading to her self-proclaimed moniker as the “prison version of Deliveroo.”
Spree, from Roby, Merseyside, pleaded guilty to charges of misconduct in a public office, conspiracy to supply cannabis, and conspiracy to convey prohibited items into prison. Her defense attorney attributed her actions to a personal history of abuse and trauma, noting that her criminal behavior stemmed from emotional vulnerability rather than financial gain.
The sentencing for Spree and her co-defendants, including the inmates involved and Dylan Westall’s younger brother, is scheduled for Tuesday. The Westall siblings and Porterfield have also admitted to charges related to the conspiracy to supply drugs and prohibited items into the prison, implicating a wider network of individuals in the smuggling operation.
