Prison worker faked threats in drug smuggle plot

Michala Stubbs was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court last Thursday

A prison worker who tried to smuggle more than £250,000 worth of drugs into HMP Lindholme sent herself fake threats to support a bogus duress story, a court has heard.

Michala Stubbs, 40, who worked in the prison's education department, was caught with 250g of cocaine and 250g of ketamine during a staff search in October 2023.

She initially claimed she had been coerced into the plot by threats made against her children but searches of her phone revealed that she had sent the text messages to herself.

Stubbs, of The Crescent, Doncaster, admitted possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs and was jailed for five years and two months at Sheffield Crown Court last Thursday.

South Yorkshire Police's Det Con Scott Jarvis said criminality within prisons "threatens to derail" rehabilitation and affects the safety of communities.

"Stubbs betrayed the trust given to her as someone employed to work within one of our prisons," he said.

"She desperately tried to cover her tracks but her story just didn't add up and a thorough investigation led to the truth being revealed."

Det Con Jarvis said articles smuggled into prisons pose "a serious risk to staff and prisoners" and could trigger violence and disorder.

"Prisons must remain free of criminality and we remain committed to tackling this behaviour and ensuring that anyone responsible for committing these crimes will be dealt with by the full force of the law," he added.

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