CCTV captured Julia Watson, 61 taking an irregular route through the prison and operating a waste management vehicle, which stopped near A Wing shortly before the items were discovered
A prison officer who smuggled nearly £100,000 worth of drugs into a jail hidden inside tins disguised as food products has been locked up. Julia Watson, 61, from Cheetham Meadow, Leyland, was handed four months behind bars after admitting to bringing cannabis, ketamine, buprenorphine and Spice into HMP Garth.
Watson worked in the prison’s waste management department, having started her position at HMP Garth in August 2015. She was arrested in April 2024 and immediately suspended from her duties.
On April 20 2024, officers from the prison’s specialist search team conducted a targeted sweep of the A Wing servery area, reports the Liverpool Echo.
During the operation, a white food container was uncovered inside a commercial dishwasher. The container held two carrier bags packed with food items, including five tins masquerading as branded food products.
Investigation showed the tins contained amounts of Spice, cannabis resin, tobacco and ketamine. CCTV footage and X-ray scanner images from the reinforced gate security zone verified the items matched those carried into the prison by Watson earlier that morning.
Additional CCTV captured Watson taking an irregular route through the prison and operating a waste management vehicle, which halted near A Wing shortly before the items were discovered.
Following her arrest on April 23 2024, a search of Watson’s home address resulted in the seizure of a mobile phone, handwritten notes, cash and other personal items. Forensic examination of the confiscated tins and packaging subsequently revealed Watson’s fingerprint on one of the carrier bags holding the drugs.
She was locked up for four months.
Inspector Brian Morley from the NWROCU’s Prison Investigation Unit stated: “This case highlights the vigilance of HMPPS staff and the robust security measures in place to prevent the smuggling of drugs into our prisons.
“This operation has successfully exposed and dismantled a breach of trust that threatened the safety and integrity of HMP Garth.
“The prison value of the drugs Julia Watson brought into the prison is up to £95,000, and the presence of such substances fuels violence, debt, intimidation, and exploitation among prisoners.
“We remain committed to working with HMPPS and partner agencies to protect our institutions from criminal exploitation.”