Two people who plotted to flood prisons across the UK with the synthetic drug ‘spice’ disguised as legal documents have been sentenced. 

The pair sent fake legal solicitors’ letters laced with the drug to prisoners in 26 jails across the country in a bid to beat prison postal rules where such letters are given extra privileges. 

But members of the Prison Service’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit quickly recognised the forgeries and worked with officers from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit to discover the criminals responsible for the scheme and bring them to justice.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Spice sent to UK prisons.Spice sent to UK prisons. (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

Legal documents – known as “Rule 39 mail” – carry extra privileges – compared to regular post sent to prisons. 

The investigation led to the home of Rachael Stewart in Grantham, Lincolnshire.  

Officers discovered incriminating evidence at her address including a significant quantity of spice and items required to produce paper laced with the drug.

Officers also found bogus ink stamps for solicitors’ firms and a fake “Rule 39” stamp which could be used to falsely indicate the paperwork had the added legal privileges. 

A laptop found in the bedroom of one of Stewart’s children held evidence of how the materials were produced before being sent to high security prisons across the country.

Stewart’s son, Kian Stewart, was also arrested, while further investigations led to the arrest of Shay Bradshaw.

The three were each later charged with and admitted conspiracy to convey List A articles into prisons, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Letters sent under 39a correspondence. Letters sent under 39a correspondence. (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

Appearing before Lincoln Crown Court for sentencing yesterday (22 August, 2023) Bradshaw, aged 30, of Ollis Close, Corby, Northants, was jailed for six years and nine months. He was described as taking a leading role in the enterprise.

Rachael Stewart, aged 41, of Stirling Close, Grantham, was jailed for three years and four months. She was described as having played a significant bordering on leading role in the plot,

Kian Stewart, aged 22, also of Stirling Close, Grantham, was given a 12-month community order with 20 days of rehabilitation activity.

The court heard the organised operation spanned a three-year period between July 2017 and May 2020. 

It is estimated that 26 category A, B and C prisons at locations across the UK were affected by the activities of Stewart, Stewart and Bradshaw. 

Speaking after the sentencing Detective Chief Superintendent Carl Galvin, head of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit said: “I welcome the sentences handed out today. 

“This was a sophisticated attempt to disguise Class B drugs as legitimate privileged legal documents purporting to be from solicitors. 
“The aim was to bypass prison security safeguarding techniques and flood the wings of a number of prisons with psychoactive substances that would typically be bought and sold for prices that were grossly inflated from what they were worth in open society. 

“Prisons should be places of safety where inmates can get help and support in respect of addiction, we will not stand for this type of abuse and the Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit continues to work alongside partner agencies to tackle the blight of drugs on our communities.” 

Prisons Minister Damian Hinds said: “This case proves the vital importance of our additional £11m investment to crack down on serious organised crime in prisons, alongside our £100m security investment in cutting edge new X-ray baggage scanners and new drug-detection machines in the mailroom.”