Woman who posted drugs to prisoners jailed

The 40-year-old was jailed for two years and two months at Reading Crown Court

A former health care assistant at Broadmoor Hospital who had a relationship with a patient and sent fake legal documents laced with drugs to prisoners has been jailed.

Laura Horton, from Aldershot, admitted sending the letters, containing the class B drug Spice at least 20 times to prisons across England between 2018 and 2022.

One of the letters was intercepted HMP Swaleside in Kent in December 2021, another at HMP Isle of Wight in January 2022.

Horton was jailed at Reading Crown Court for two years and two months after admitting conveying a List A article into prison, concealing criminal property and being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug.

The South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) said Horton, 40, also laundered about £28,000 through her personal bank account.

SEROCU said she had formed an inappropriate relationship with a patient while employed at Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital and had resigned when an internal investigation began. It said her offending had been linked to that relationship.

Det Chief Supt Steve Boniface, the head of SEROCU, said supplying drugs like Spice into prison "has a devastating impact".

He said: "It is responsible for prisoners' ill health, serious violence and on occasion has led to deaths."

"Laura Horton would have been aware of this impact having worked within Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital where security measures are similar to mainstream prisons." he said.