The court has sentenced a former Staffordshire Police detective constable and three others for using drones to smuggle drugs and contraband into HMP Onley and HMP Gartree during 2021–22. Clare Davenport received a two-year term suspended for two years plus 150 hours of unpaid work; Peter King, Kent George and Mervyn Foster received multi-year custodial sentences. Authorities say seized packages included Class A and B drugs, phones and tobacco — one August 2021 seizure contained heroin valued at £22,400 and cannabis at £15,300. Investigators warned that technologically sophisticated schemes will still be detected and prosecuted.
Ex-Detective And Three Accomplices Jailed Over Drone Drug Drops Into Prisons
Four people, including a former detective constable, were found guilty of smuggling contraband into two UK prisons [Getty Images]
A former detective constable and three others have been sentenced after being convicted of using drones to smuggle drugs and other contraband into prisons during 2021–22.
Unmanned aircraft carrying prohibited items were flown into HMP Onley in Northamptonshire and HMP Gartree in Leicestershire, a court heard. The scheme was active throughout 2021 and 2022 and involved regular deliveries of drugs, mobile phones, tobacco and other banned items.
Sentences and Convictions
On Wednesday, former Staffordshire Police detective constable Clare Davenport was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work at Birmingham Crown Court. Davenport, 51, pleaded guilty in August to conspiring to bring List A and List B prohibited articles into or out of prison and to conspiring to acquire, use or possess criminal property.
(From left) Kent George, Mervyn Foster and Peter King were each handed lengthy jail terms [Northamptonshire Police]
At Wolverhampton Crown Court on 4 June, three others involved in the operation were handed custodial sentences. Peter King was jailed for six years and six months, Kent George received five years and six months, and Mervyn Foster was sentenced to seven years and three months. King pleaded guilty in August to the conspiracy charges; George, 63, and Foster, 45, were convicted after a trial that concluded last year.
What Was Smuggled
Northamptonshire Police said packages recovered from the drones contained Class A and Class B drugs, along with tobacco, mobile phones and other contraband. One package recovered by a prison officer in August 2021 was found to contain heroin with a prison value of approximately £22,400 and cannabis worth around £15,300.
“These individuals showed a complete disregard for the law and the harm that drugs and other contraband cause within custodial environments. Let this case send a clear message to anyone thinking of engaging in similar behaviour – we will identify you, we will investigate you, and you will face serious consequences. No matter how sophisticated you believe your methods are, you are not beyond our reach.”
Professional Misconduct
A gross misconduct hearing held by Staffordshire Police on 3 August 2023 concluded that Davenport would have been dismissed if she had not already retired.
The investigation and prosecutions underline the continuing challenges prisons face from drone-enabled smuggling and the law enforcement response to such organised activity.
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