Prison board boss charged over jail drugs plot
Jonny Humphries/BBCThe former chairwoman of a prison monitoring board has appeared in court charged with having inappropriate relationships with serving prisoners and conspiring to smuggle drugs into HMP Liverpool.
Helen Spree, 61, was charged alongside five men as part of a joint counter corruption investigation by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit and the prison service.
She appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court for a hearing where the case was passed to the crown court.
Ms Spree faces a charge of misconduct in a public office, two of conveying a prohibited item into prison and one of conspiracy to supply cannabis, all alleged to have been committed between December 2019 and August 2021.
According to the government website, independent prison monitoring boards (IMBs) are supposed to monitor the treatment of those in custody and ensure it adheres to legal standards.
Ms Spree was the chairwoman of the IMB attached to HMP Liverpool in Walton, but according to the wording of the charge "misconducted yourself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder".
The charges stated she "conspired to convey list A and B articles into a prison, conspired to supply a Class B controlled drug namely cannabis and engaged in inappropriate relationships with serving prisoners".
Alex Langhorn, prosecuting, said all the offences related to HMP Liverpool.
Ms Spree, from Roby in Merseyside, spoke only to confirm her name and address and was not asked to enter pleas.
She was bailed to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on 18 February.
Ms Spree did not respond when asked to comment outside the court building.
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