TWO care workers became so ‘blinded by love and affection’ that they chose to smuggle contraband for two prisoners. Amy Portwood and Adrienne Juniper’s ‘infatuation’ for serving prisoners saw them convey illicit drugs and mobile phones into HMP Risley. Liverpool Crown Court heard how they shared thousands of sexual messages with convicted criminals Darren McAndrew and Philip Phythian.
One carer is now behind bars herself, while the other was spared immediate jail due to hers being an exceptional case, with the impact of her incarceration on her children seeing her jail term suspended. Portwood, of Hughes Avenue in Orford, and Juniper, of St Helens Road in Leigh admitted conveying prohibited articles into a prison and possessing heroin, cocaine, cannabis, cannabis resin and steroids with intent to supply them. Guilty pleas were entered by McAndrew and Phythian meanwhile, both of Manchester but appearing in court via video link from HMP Forest bank in Salford, to conveying prohibited articles into a prison and possessing a prohibited item in a prison.
The court heard from Philip Astbury, prosecuting, how the former was in Risley prison serving an extended 12-year sentence for robbery and aggravated vehicle taking, while the latter was handed a six-year sentence for robbery and possession of a bladed article in public. Portwood and Juniper became embroiled in the smuggling plot through their role as contracted care workers, making regular visits to the category C jail .
