Inside illicit relationship between prison officer pals and jailed gangster brothers

Inside illicit relationship between prison officer pals and jailed gangster brothers Prison officers Jai Gascoyne, 25, and Elle Walton, 27 were both jailed for their illicit relationships with inmates Dil Nawaz, 30, and Haq Nawaz, 32 while working at HMP Buckley Hall Two female prison officers have been sentenced after they began secret relationships with two gangster brothers behind bars. Jai Gascoyne, 25, and Elle Walton, 27, who worked at HMP Buckley Hall, shared Valentine's cards with Dil Nawaz, 30, and Haq Nawaz, 32. Gascoyne ordered matching necklaces and bracelets for her and Dil Nawaz. The female defendants also received money from associates of the brothers. Despite their relationships not being sexual and they did not smuggle contraband on their behalf, the pair were both jailed. Gascoyne admitted being in an inappropriate relationship with Dil Nawaz between January 20, 2024, and April 4, 2024. While Walton admitted being in an inappropriate relationship with Haq Nawaz between January 21, 2024, and March 16, 2024. Prosecuting, Philip Hall said that Gascoyne and Walton were friends and socialised outside of work, reports M.E.N. Haq Nawaz and Dil Nawaz both received lengthy jail terms in 2023 for the leading roles they played in a Lancashire drugs gang. Lancashire Police said that the gang was responsible for the distribution of between £2.15m and £3.1m worth of crack cocaine and heroin over a 12 month period. Mr Hall said: “It was clear each knew of the other’s inappropriate relationship and they supported each other in the offending.” Both women resigned from their role. Lawyers for both women appealed for them to be spared a prison sentence. But the judge, Recorder Ben Lawrence, said a deterrent sentence was required to put off others in future from doing the same. “You were well aware you were not to have relationships with prisoners under any circumstances,” he told the pair. He said the pair had breached the trust placed in them as part of their job. “You have undermined that trust in the most devastating way you could have in that role,” the judge added. Prosecutors accepted that the women had not engaged in sexual relationships with the prisoners and had not tried to smuggle any contraband into the jail. Earlier, Michael O’Brien, defending Walton, said she fully accepted responsibility for her actions and was ‘deeply remorseful’. She was described as ‘kind, caring and hard working’ by those who know her and her actions were ‘entirely out of character’, he said. Nick Cockrell, defending Gascoyne, said her remorse was ‘genuine’. Gaby McGrath, for Dil Nawaz, said that there was ‘no planning’ ahead of the relationship and that it ‘came out of nowhere’. Gascoyne, of Chapel Street, Dukinfield, pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in a public office. Walton, of Gordon Street, Bacup, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in a public office. Haq Nawaz, previously of Leyland, Lancashire, and Dil Nawaz, previously of Preston, Lancashire, both pleaded guilty to encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence, namely misconduct in public office, and possessing a prohibited item in prison. Gascoyne was sentenced to 16 months in prison. Walton was sentenced to 13 months in prison. They also both had a year added to their sentences. Dil Nawaz was previously sentenced to 13 years and ten months in prison, while Haq Nawaz was sentenced to 12 years for their parts in a class A drug conspiracy.