Overview
- Liverpool Crown Court jailed Zoe Oldham, 29, after she pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office.
- Officers uncovered a hidden phone in March 2023 and later found 1,184 Snapchat messages between Oldham and inmate Lewis Smith, including explicit images and declarations of love.
- Prosecutors said Oldham sent her bank details to receive £350 from the prisoner, and colleagues had noted changes in her behaviour and attempts to work near him.
- NWROCU led coordinated arrests and searches on December 19, 2023, while HMP Wymott staff recovered two phones and drugs from the inmate’s cell.
- Detective Inspector Brian Morley warned that such relationships endanger staff and inmates, pledging continued joint efforts with HM Prison Service to disrupt corruption.