Prison officers jailed after affairs with drug-dealing brothers they were guarding behind bars

A pair of female prison officers who had affairs with two brothers serving time for running a multi-million-pound drugs operation have been jailed.

Jai Gascoyne, 25, and Elle Walton, 27, conducted the relationships while working at HMP Buckley Hall.

Gascoyne, from Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in public office after having a relationship with inmate Dil Nawaz, 30.

She also had inappropriate contact with two other prisoners, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Walton, from Bacup, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office after having a relationship with Haq Nawaz, 32.

The court heard how the two couples wore jewelry bearing each other’s initials, sent hundreds of messages, and exchanged gifts and money.

Gascoyne and Dil Nawaz even declared their "love" for each other in their messages and he discussed "wanting to have sex".

The court heard how he suggested the prison officer could take him to the chapel or "open his door and go into his room."

Gascoyne and Walton were sentenced to 16 and 13 months in prison respectively—Gascoyne’s longer sentence was due to her seemingly having two other relationships with prisoners.

Recorder Ben Lawrence said their case "strikes at the heart of the public faith in the prison system".

An investigation was launched after prison anti-corruption officials received intelligence, said Philip Hall, prosecuting.

Gascoyne was searched and found with two necklaces, one engraved with a "D" she claimed was for her dad, and a second with Arabic script—she could not explain what the script meant.

It was revealed to be an Islamic prayer for protection and was thought to refer to Dil Nawaz’s Muslim faith.

Officers later discovered the prison guard had ordered two bracelets and two necklaces with pendants on Amazon.

Dil Nawaz was found wearing a silver bracelet with a love-heart pendant engraved with a "J" during a search of his cell, matching Gascoyne’s.

He also had a Valentine’s card signed off with "I love you always".

His brother, Haq Nawaz, was found wearing a chain with an "E" pendant and a Valentine’s card.

Gascoyne superimposed Dil Nawaz’s face alongside hers in images found on her phone, the court heard.

She looked the brothers up on the internet and was "fully aware of their crimes", Mr. Hall added.

The women also received cash payments from one of Nawaz’s sisters.

When asked about the relationships which took place between January 2024 and April 2024, the women refused to answer any questions.

The Nawaz brothers pleaded guilty to encouraging and assisting in the commission of an either-way offence, namely misconduct in public office, and possessing a mobile phone in prison.

Michael O’Brien, defending Walton, said her relationship had not become sexual and had not intended to compromise the security or integrity of the prison.

The barrister said Walton "fully regrets" her actions.

Nick Cockrell, defending Gascoyne, also said she had genuine remorse.

Dil Nawaz said he wanted "companionship" as he struggled with his mental health following a prison attack, the court heard.

Meanwhile, his brother had "wanted someone to talk to" due to feeling isolated from his family.

The pair both received 12-month sentences.

Haq Nawaz was jailed for 13 years and 10 months and Dil Nawaz for 12 years in September 2023 for heading an OCG gang with their other brother Asim Nawaz.

It is believed the gang distributed between £2.15m and £3.1m worth of crack cocaine and heroin over a 12-month period.

They controlled an "army" of drug dealers and runners in Chorley and Preston, which included exploited juveniles, who operated at street level.

The operation involved several drug lines and led to 30 people being arrested and charged and handed prison sentences totaling 132 years.