Forest Bank prison workers jailed for £100,000 theft

Byron, aged 37, a former security manager at HMP Forest Bank from Manchester Road, Over Hulton; and Anthony Bradbury, aged 31, of Haslam Street, Bury, a former security analyst at the prison; were involved in a “joint enterprise” to steal and money launder goods smuggled out of HMP Forest Bank Manchester Crown Court heard today.

The duo were also assisted by Bradbury’s associate, 27-year-old Charlie Corrigan, also of Haslam Street, Bury, but who did not work at the prison.

At a hearing last month the court heard how the three men had been involved in a scheme to steal valuable items delivered to the prison, including DVDs, box sets, computer games, consoles and accessories and a vacuum cleaner; before selling them on.

As part of Forest Bank’s rehabilitation programme, the prison operates an “industry section” where prisoners can undertake employment for “modest payment”.

There shipments of items returned to stores by customers are received to be packaged for resale.

The shipments, initially books but later CDs, DVDS and other goods from the supermarket Morrisons and another large company, were sent into the prison in tote bags, but not accompanied with manifests.

And other than to check for contraband, such as cigarettes and knife blocks, the items entering the prison were not inspected or counted.

Once removed from the prison, Byron, Bradbury and Corrigan would sell the items on to people and at shops, including at the CEX exchange store in Bolton where Byron traded around £5,200 of the stolen goods.

An investigation was launched into the trio’s actions in May 2017, and they were arrested one month later.

At the time Byron was found to have around £7,000 in cash and Bradbury was found to have stashed computer games and a blue rucksack containing cigarettes

Yesterday Newton Hearing – a trial of issue – was held to determine whether Bradbury’s involvement in the thefts had started around June, 2015 or January, 2016, as he claimed.

However Judge Suzanne Goddard ruled that Bradbury had been participating since the earlier date, adding around £6,000 to the total value of items he was estimated to have stolen from the prison.

Defending Byron, Nicholas Ross described the father-of-three as “a family man, hitherto a gentleman of impeccable character”, and noting that “This was not difficult, clever or sophisticated crime.”

Mr Ross added: “There were gaps in time where he desisted, but having desisted he went back. It is right to say that he found it almost an impossibility to get off the treadmill .

“In fact when he was caught there was relief that he had been outed.”

Defending Bradbury, Keith Harrison described him as a father to a young son and the “sole breadwinner” due to his partner’s long-term illness.

He added that Bradbury had been “hitherto of good character” and noted that “his work record was excellent until his fall from grace.”

Sentencing Byron to two years and 10 months and Bradbury to two years and two months in prison Judge Goddard said: “This is a very serious matter and a gross breach of trust on both your parts.”

Corrigan is due to be sentenced on November 28.

Speaking after the hearing Sergeant Johnny McGirr, Greater Manchester Police’s lead investigator on the case said: “There are no winners in this. They have got a fair sentence from the judge and they have had a fair hearing.

Sgt McGirr was unable to fully divulge how the police had been made aware of Byron and Bradbury’s crimes, but did note that the information had been passed to him by the Forest Bank’s governor.

He was also frank about GMP’s capacity to prevent similar crimes in the future.

He said: “I don’t think Greater Manchester Police can do anything to prevent this sort of crime. It’s down to the prison service. It’s being generated from within the prison service so Greater Manchester Police will investigate it as any other criminal offence. And if the prison service ask for Greater Manchester Police’s assistance then we’ll give it.”