Thirteen people charged in connection with conspiracy to smuggle drugs into prisons

Thirteen people have been charged following a joint investigation between Merseyside Police and HM Prison and Probation Service Serious Organised Crime Unit into a conspiracy to smuggle drugs into prisons.

The charges relate to allegations of Class B drugs, namely Spice, being conveyed into HMP Frankland and HMP Isle of Wight (Hampshire) between April 2022 and January 2024, and a conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, namely Spice between April 2022 and January 2024.

Those charged are:

• Paul Croxton, 33, of HMP Long Lartin, Worcestershire;
• Agnes Croxton, 68, of Delta Drive, West Derby
• Amelia Allen, 25, of Marrick Road, Middlesborough
• Colin Fairclough, 43, of Ellerburne Street, Stockton-on-Tees
• George Fairclough, 34, of HMP Swaleside, Kent
• Movelle Griffiths, 66, of Hylton Road, Allerton
• Tyrone Griffiths, 48, of HMP Frankland, Durham
• Shamzad Iqbal, 41, of Hudson Crescent, Bradford
• Christine Ryan, 74, of Toronto Road, Sunderland
• Jack Ryan, 33, of HMP Frankland, Durham
• Pauline Worrell, 66, of Peter Mahon Way, Bootle
• George Worrell, 71, of Peter Mahon Way, Bootle
• Khadija Hamid, 37, of Queens Road, Blackburn

All will appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Tuesday 25 November.

Detective Constable Dave Rutherford said: “We remain committed to working with our partners, including HM Prison and Probation Service, to target those who attempt to bring drugs and other prohibited items into prisons.

“We will continue to respond to all pieces of evidence we receive and would encourage the public to come forward with any information and let us take positive action.”