A 23-year-old prison officer allegedly engaged in a sexual act with an inmate inside a prison prayer room while two other prisoners acted as lookouts, a court has heard.
Isabelle Dale, who worked at HMP Coldingley in Surrey, is accused of having an intimate relationship with convicted robber Shahid Sharif, who was serving a 12-year sentence. Prosecutors claim their relationship led to a drug smuggling operation involving synthetic cannabis, known as “spice,” being brought into prison facilities.
According to prosecutors at Southwark Crown Court, Dale and Sharif’s secret affair began while he was imprisoned at Coldingley. The two were reportedly seen entering a multi-faith prayer room together in July 2022, remaining inside for four minutes while other inmates acted as lookouts. CCTV captured Dale readjusting her belt as they exited the room. Investigators later found explicit messages from Sharif on Dale’s phone, allegedly sent after the encounter.
The court heard that after Sharif was transferred to HMP Swaleside in Kent, Dale continued to visit him, exchanging kisses during monitored visits and sending him flirtatious photos through the prison’s email system. She also allegedly transferred £100 to him and displayed a framed canvas of the couple at her home.
When police arrested Dale on November 1, officers found drug-smuggling materials, including carbon paper used to conceal contraband, in her car. They also discovered love letters and provocative photos in Sharif’s prison cell.
Prosecutors allege Dale ran Sharif’s Snapchat drug network and collected packages of synthetic cannabis from his associate, Lilea Sallis, in Brighton. Both Dale and Sallis are accused of conspiring to smuggle the drug-laced envelopes into the prison for Sharif to sell.
Evidence from Dale’s seized phone also revealed she may have had a second relationship with another inmate, Connor Money, as well as communications with two more prisoners via illegal phones.
Prosecutor Kieran Brand said Dale was fully aware of the prison’s anti-corruption policy when she joined in 2021, yet became “deeply entangled in criminal conduct” through her involvement with Sharif.
Dale, of Portsmouth, denies two counts of misconduct in public office and conspiracy to convey a prohibited item into prison. Sallis, of East Sussex, also denies conspiracy to smuggle prohibited items. The trial continues.
