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DARING convicts attempted to escape by using a drone to fly in a pair of bolt cutters and were only thwarted as the remotely operated aircraft unloaded its tools outside the prison fence.
The unusual plot at HMP Featherstone, Staffs, England, was revealed amid warnings of a rise in the use of drones to smuggle illegal items into jails.
Police are now investigating who was behind the drone, which was found March 6 and also contained banned mobile phones and a consignment of drugs, said to include the deadly legal high Spice, a synthetic version of cannabis.
A source said, “It was only by luck that a staff member saw the drone and witnessed it dump its load outside the fence.”
“The theory is the operator made a mistake and the parcel should have been unloaded inside the jail.”
Statistics show that drones are being increasingly used by criminals to smuggle contraband items into prison.
Last year, 33 drones were discovered in or around jails in England and Wales, while in 2014 there were just two incidents of this kind.
Glyn Travis, assistant secretary of the Prison Officers Association, said the issue had to be taken more seriously.
He said, “The threat from drones is escalating.”
“In this case, the discovery of bolt cutters suggests a plan to cut through the perimeter fence.
“There can be no doubt that an inmate inside had ordered the equipment for a possible escape bid.”
Prison Service spokesman said, “Vigilant staff at HMP Featherstone successfully stopped illicit items getting into the hands of prisoners. The incident is being investigated by the police.
“The government has introduced new legislation meaning anyone found using drones to smuggle contraband can receive a two year sentence.”
The Category C secure jail has been the target of previous smuggling attempts.
In February 2015, Nahim Ali, 34, and his brother Tahir, 40, on the outside, were caught trying to smuggle in hundreds of tablets and bottles of steroids and testosterone hidden in Ribena cartons.(SD-Agencies)
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