Two prison officers have been sentenced to jail time for engaging in secret relationships with convicted drug dealers housed at Buckley Hall Prison near Rochdale. Jai Gascoyne, 25, and Elle Walton, 27, both pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office.
Gascoyne was found to be in a relationship with Dil Nawaz, who is serving a 12-year sentence for heading a drug gang. Her affection was revealed in a Valentine's Day card discovered in Nawaz's cell, where she wrote, "Waiting is a sign of true love and patience." She added, "Anyone can say I love you but not everyone can wait and prove it. Happy Valentine’s Day D, here’s to the first of forever and I can’t wait for the future." The card was signed, "I love you always."
An investigation into Gascoyne began after suspicious colleagues stopped her during a behavior detection operation. Searches revealed she was wearing two necklaces. One, a heart engraved with 'D,' she claimed was for her father, but she could not explain the Arabic script on the other pendant. A court later heard this script was an Islamic prayer for protection. Further searches uncovered a love letter in her car and a ring in a box.
Coincidentally, the same investigation exposed that Gascoyne's friend and fellow officer, Elle Walton, was in a secret relationship with Dil Nawaz's brother, Haq Nawaz, who is also serving a prison sentence. Haq Nawaz was found wearing a chain inscribed with the letter 'E' for Elle.
Both officers and the Nawaz brothers exchanged hundreds of messages, swapped gifts and money, and wore jewelry bearing each other's initials. The Nawaz brothers, who were convicted of heading a drug gang distributing an estimated £3 million worth of crack cocaine and heroin, received an additional 12 months each for their roles in the misconduct. Dil Nawaz is serving a 12-year sentence, and Haq Nawaz was sentenced to 13 years and ten months in September 2023.
During the investigation, Gascoyne also admitted to having inappropriate contact with two other prisoners. She created images of Dil Nawaz on her phone, superimposing her face with his. While the officers sometimes used pseudonyms for the brothers, they occasionally slipped up. Both women also received cash payments through one of their sisters.
On August 7, Recorder Ben Lawrence jailed Gascoyne for 16 months and Walton for 13 months, stating that "deterrent" sentences were necessary. He noted that Gascoyne's case was more serious due to her relationships with three prisoners. The judge emphasized that such betrayals "strike at the heart of the public faith in the prison system."