Julia Watson, 61, abused her position to sneak cannabis, ketamine and spice into HMP Garth in Lancashire – where she worked in the prison’s waste management unit
A prison officer has been jailed after smuggling £100k worth of drugs inside food tins into a prison and stashing them in a dishwasher.
Julia Watson, 61, abused her position to sneak cannabis, ketamine and spice into HMP Garth in Lancashire. The ex-officer, of Cheetham Meadow, Leyland, Lancs., worked in the prison’s waste management unit and had been employed at the jail since August 2015.
But on April 20, 2024, officers carried out a search and made a shocking discovery inside a commercial dishwasher. They found a white food tub containing two carrier bags crammed with what appeared to be food items.
Hidden among them were five tins disguised as branded products – but instead of food they contained spice, cannabis, tobacco and ketamine.
CCTV and x-ray scanner images from the prison’s security system showed the items matched those Watson had brought into the jail earlier that morning.
Further footage showed her taking an unusual route through the prison and driving a truck that stopped close to the wing where the drugs were later found. She was arrested three days later.
A search of her home uncovered a mobile phone, handwritten notes, cash and other personal items. Forensic tests later identified Watson’s fingerprint on one of the carrier bags containing the drugs. She admitted conveying cannabis, ketamine, buprenorphine and spice and was jailed for four months.
Inspector Brian Morley of the Prison Investigation Unit said: “This case highlights the vigilance of HMPPS staff and the robust security measures in place to prevent the smuggling of drugs into our prisons. This operation has successfully exposed and dismantled a breach of trust that threatened the safety and integrity of HMP Garth.
“The prison value of the drugs Julia Watson brought into the prison is up to £95,000, and the presence of such substances fuels violence, debt, intimidation, and exploitation among prisoners. We remain committed to working with HMPPS and partner agencies to protect our institutions from criminal exploitation.”
