Two female prison officers have been sentenced to jail after carrying on secret relationships with two brothers who were locked up for running a massive 𝒹𝓇𝓊𝑔 ring. The romance reportedly included engraved jewelry, cash, and Valentine’s Day cards, according to court documents.
Jai Gascoyne, 25, and Elle Walton, 27, both worked at HMP Buckley Hall in Greater Manchester when they allegedly got involved with Dil Nawaz, 30, and his older brother Haq Nawaz, 32. The brothers were already serving long sentences for heading an organized crime group that flooded the streets with crack cocaine and heroin worth up to £3.1 million.
Court proceedings revealed that Gascoyne pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in public office after having a relationship with Dil Nawaz, as well as inappropriate contact with two other prisoners. Walton admitted one count of misconduct for her connection with Haq Nawaz.
The relationships reportedly included a steady stream of gifts and messages. Gascoyne and Dil Nawaz wore jewelry with each other’s initials, and he allegedly talked about wanting to be alone with her inside the prison. Valentine’s cards were exchanged, and Haq Nawaz was found wearing a chain with an “E” pendant during a cell search, documents claim.
Investigators reportedly discovered that Gascoyne had ordered matching bracelets and necklaces from Amazon. She also had photos on her phone where she had edited Dil Nawaz’s face onto her own images. When questioned, both women refused to answer.
The female officers also received cash from one of the Nawaz sisters, according to the prosecution.
Recorder Ben Lawrence, who handed down the sentences, said the case “strikes at the heart of the public faith in the prison system.” Gascoyne received 16 months behind bars, while Walton got 13 months due to the extra relationships involved.
The Nawaz brothers each got 12-month sentences for encouraging the misconduct and possessing a mobile phone in prison. This is on top of their longer 𝒹𝓇𝓊𝑔-related sentences: Haq Nawaz is serving 13 years and 10 months, and Dil Nawaz 12 years.
Defense lawyers argued that both women showed genuine remorse, and that the relationships were not sexual in nature. Dil Nawaz reportedly said he was looking for companionship after being attacked behind bars, while Haq Nawaz claimed he just wanted someone to talk to after feeling isolated from his family.
Their 𝒹𝓇𝓊𝑔 empire reportedly involved an “army” of dealers including exploited teenagers, and resulted in 30 people being arrested and sentenced to a combined 132 years.
What would make someone risk everything for a romance behind prison walls?
