Mother and Son jailed for prison drug smuggling operation

A mother and son have been sentenced for smuggling drugs into HMP Pentonville Prison. Gary Grannells, 40 was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court on Tuesday, 12 February, to three years and four months’ imprisonment for Possession of Controlled Drug of Class B with Intent to Supply. He also received one year and four months’ sentence for The Unauthorised Conveyance of class B items into Prison to run concurrently. Amanda Grannells, 55 was sentenced at the same court to one year and four months’ suspended sentence for Being Concerned in an Agreement which Facilities the Acquisition, Retention, Use or Control of Criminal Property by Another. She was also ordered to complete 70 hours of un-paid work. The pair previously pleaded guilty to all charges at Harrow Crown Court. The court heard that on 14 February 2017 Gary Grannell’s prison cell in HMP Pentonville, where he was serving a sentence for burglary, was searched and approximately 234gms of Spice was seized. A number of mobile phones and accessories were also found. An investigation ensued and it was found that Grannell had been carrying out his operation between August 2014 and February 2017. It was then discovered that Grannell was being supported by his mother, Amanda Grannell, finding evidence on her bank account relating back to the supply of contraband items into the prison estate. Officers searched her address at Dombey House, Henry Dickens Court, W11 and a quantity of mobile phones, SIM cards and other phone accessories were recovered, packaged and ready to be smuggled into HMP Pentonville. It also transpired that Amanda Grannells was allowing her bank accounts to be used to aid the process. Sums of money were recorded being paid in which related back to the supply of contraband items into the prison estate or linked to serving prisoners within the prison. Detective Inspector Mark Galloway said: “The sentencing in this case acknowledges the direct harm caused by these offences, which directly undermines the extensive work delivered within prisons to support and rehabilitate offenders. “The Met is committed to our close partnership with the Prison Service and together, we will continue to combat the organised criminals supplying drugs and phones into our prisons’. Detective Sergeant Karen Smith said: “This was an operation instigated by the London Regional Prisons Intelligence Unit and colleagues from HMP. “The Operation targeted individuals who were involved in the smuggling of contraband into the prison estate in return for payment. “We will continue to work in partnership with HMP to combat the rising issue of smuggling of contraband into the prison estate. “It is very pleasing to see that the courts are applying higher sentences to those involved in prison offences.”