Text messages sent between prison officer and inmate who ‘had sex in prayer room’
Explicit text messages exchanged between a prison officer and two inmates have been released as she is accused of having sex with one in a prayer room.
Isabelle Dale, 23, is accused of having a sexual relationship with Shahid Sharif, a convicted robber, at HMP Coldingley in Surrey, while she also faces allegations of smuggling in drugs and telephones for a number of inmates in the prison.
On Monday, 27 October, the young prison officer appeared at Southwark Crown Court charged with two counts of misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to convey a 'List A' prohibited article into prison, all of which she denies.
Opening Dale’s trial, prosecutor Kieran Brand said: “On July 19 2022, Miss Dale and Mr Sharif were seen to enter the multi-faith room located off a wing within the prison, together.
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“They remained there for four minutes while two inmates appeared to act as lookouts. They both emerged from the room together and walked back towards the wing, with Miss Dale appearing to readjust her belt area on the right-hand side of her hip.
“The multi-faith room is not covered by CCTV: the prosecution say it is clear they went in there for some form of sexual activity.”
A text message sent from Sharif later that day provides more evidence for the claims made by the prosecuting team, as it read: "It was good sharing dat love today ur p*****s ammaazzzeeeingggggg”.
After Miss Dale was arrested, police conducted a thorough search of Mr Sharif's cell, where they discovered love letters and provocative photos of the prison officer.
She is also accused of visiting him on a further three occasions, with CCTV footage reportedly capturing her 'embracing and kissing' the inmate, who is three years into a 12-year sentence.
Although he was moved to a new prison after their brief encounter, Miss Dale allegedly continued to contact him through the email a prisoner system, where she sent more explicit images and even transferred him £100.
She is also accused of helping the prisoner smuggle envelopes 'laced with spice' into his new prison, something the prisoner has already pleaded guilty to.
Prosecutor Kieran Brand continued: “Their intimate relationship led to Miss Dale agreeing with him to smuggle contraband, including the illegal drug ‘spice’ into the prison.
‘The spice was to be supplied by the second defendant, Lilea Sallis, who was an associate of Mr Sharif.
“It is further alleged that Miss Dale had a sexual relationship with at least one other prisoner."
Text messages also hinted at another intimate relationship with inmate Connor Money.
She wrote: “You maybe just wanting to use me because I’m an officer but I don’t think your [sic] like that xx”.
In response to an alleged explicit message from the prisoner, she replied: "When you know you want me and only me lol xx”.
Miss Dale denies all charges, and the case continues.
Should she be found guilty, it will follow in the footsteps of an alarming recent trend of female prison officers sleeping with inmates, with a BBC documentary focusing on the shocking sex tape scandal at HMP Wandsworth.
James Moorhouse