HMP Lindholme: Final member of biggest prison smuggling gang jailed

William Francis, 57, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs

The final member of the UK's biggest prison smuggling gang has been jailed.

William Francis was one of 17 people caught helping to pass drugs, phones and weapons to inmates at HMP Lindholme in South Yorkshire.

He was jailed at Bradford Crown Court for 47 months after pleading guilty at an earlier in Sheffield.

The gang was led by Amy Hatfield, a nursing assistant at the prison near Doncaster, and her inmate lover Joseph Whittingham.

Hatfield was arrested as she arrived for work in October 2019 and officers found a variety of drugs and mobile phones in her possession.

Whittingham was jailed for 11 years and Hatfield was handed a 10-year sentence after they were convicted at Sheffield Crown Court in October.

The trial heard the gang included five Lindholme inmates, family members and friends.

They were collectively sentenced to 88 years and 11 months in prison, with some receiving suspended sentences.

William Francis was one of 17 people caught helping to pass drugs, phones and weapons to inmates at HMP Lindholme near Doncaster

Francis, 57, of Hogan Gardens in Nottingham, had admitted possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs and was sentenced on Tuesday.

Police said he was linked to the group through financial records.

Det Sgt Gareth Gent from South Yorkshire Police's Prison Anti-Corruption Unit said: "The sentencing of William Francis today marks the end of our unprecedented four-year investigation into a highly complex criminal network operating inside HMP Lindholme.

"A significant amount of work went into piecing together the activities of the network of criminals operating both inside and outside of the prison system, and I am pleased that Francis is joining 13 of his co-conspirators behind bars.

"The smuggling of dangerous and illegal substances into prisons is an extremely serious crime, and we know that the circulation of drugs and other illicit substances in our prisons causes great misery, violence and sadly death."