Mum referred to as herself ‘Deliveroo for prisoners’ and despatched sexually messages to three inmates

Helen Spree, chair of HMP Liverpool’s prison watchdog, pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs into jail and sending sexually explicit messages to inmates including a convicted killer

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A mum who held the position of chair at HMP Liverpool’s watchdog cheekily referred to herself as “Deliveroo for prisoners” while she smuggled drugs into the prison.

Helen Spree was also involved in “inappropriate relationships” with three inmates, including exchanging risqué messages with a convicted murderer.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today (June 1) that the 63-year-old, from Holly Bank Avenue in Roby, joined Walton prison’s independent monitoring board in April 2017 before being promoted to chairman in January 2021.

The former businesswoman is said to have enjoyed a “successful career” as a sales director for a global firm before voluntarily working for the prison.

Her role granted her “statutory powers to go anywhere in the establishment unaccompanied”, as well as the ability to converse with prisoners and possess her own set of keys.

However, Andrew Scott, representing the crown, detailed how Spree “formed inappropriate relationships with three prisoners” at HMP Liverpool, specifically Dylan Westall and Thomas Porterfield and a third man who cannot be named due to legal reasons, between December 2019 and her arrest in August 2021.

This led to her making calls, using FaceTime and exchanging texts, iMessages and WhatsApp messages with these co-defendants.

The prosecution stated about this: “That particular contact falls into five broad categories. Social messages about what was going on in the lives of the prisoners and Helen Spree, sexually explicit messages, messages in which Helen Spree provides prisoners with details of searches, prisoner officer deployment, adjudications, when matters were being referred to the police and when police searches and arrests were to take place.

“She also suggested that she would try to assist in having adjudications thrown out.”

Spree’s exchanges with the inmates reportedly included “criticisms of those involved with the criminal justice system, particular police and prison staff” and “requests to bring in mobile phones and associated items, Rizla papers and cannabis”.

The mother-of-two also “intervened to prevent Dylan Westall from being transferred from HMP Liverpool” and personally smuggled contraband into the prison, reports the Liverpool Echo.

These items were either bought by Spree herself or given to her by Westall’s younger brother Michael, with the deliveries becoming so regular that she even referred to herself in her communications “as the prisoner’s version of Deliveroo”.

She also deposited a sum of £100 into the 35-year-old murderer’s prison account.

Arthur Gibson, defending, said Spree’s career achievements were “a veneer which was hiding a personal life of abuse and trauma”.

He said: “By 2017 she had become seriously damaged mentally by her dealings with men and towards them had very low self-esteem. When it came to being flattered and treated as a confidante, she was easily susceptible to making what were seriously wrong judgments.

“Much of what she said in messages was bravado in order to attract more flattery and praise. This was not criminality borne out of financial inducement. It was borne out of a situation she found herself (in).”

Dylan Westall, now of no fixed address but originally from Page Moss, was previously sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years in 2019 for the manslaughter of James Meadows.

The 17-year-old victim tragically lost his life after being shot in the head while riding as a passenger on a motorbike on Lyme Cross Road in Huyton in October 2017.

Sporting a black hoodie, her blonde hair tied back in a ponytail and glasses resting atop her head in the dock, Spree confessed to misconduct in a public office, six counts of conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into a prison and three charges of conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Porterfield, 44, from Greenwich Avenue in Widnes, admitted guilt to two offences of conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into a prison, conspiracy to supply cannabis and unauthorised possession of a mobile phone in a prison.

Dylan Westall, donned in a turquoise Montirex tracksuit top in the dock, conceded to two counts of conspiracy to convey a prohibited article into a prison, conspiracy to supply cannabis and unauthorised possession of a mobile phone in a prison.

Michael Westall, 26, residing at Field Lane in Fazakerley, pleaded guilty to four charges of conspiracy to convey a prohibited article into a prison and two instances of conspiracy to supply cannabis.

The defendant, who remains unnamed due to legal restrictions, admitted to two counts of conspiracy to convey a prohibited article into a prison and failing to surrender to bail, having previously missed a court appearance in February.

Sentence will be passed on Spree and four co-defendants on Tuesday (June 2).

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