A former prison watchdog who abused her position to have inappropriate relationships with three inmates and smuggle contraband into a Liverpool jail has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison.
Helen Spree, 63, served as the head of the independent monitoring board at Walton jail, a role that granted her unrestricted access to prisoners and her own set of keys. However, an investigation revealed she had engaged in corrupt relationships with convicted killer Dylan Westall, 35, Thomas Porterfield, 44, and a third inmate who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Spree, a former sales director, was exposed after prison staff noticed excessive phone calls between her and one inmate. A search of her home uncovered pillows printed with Westall's face holding a gun, along with thank-you cards and sexually explicit messages. In one letter, she wrote: 'Thinking about you - like crazy.'
Abuse of trust
Spree admitted to misconduct in public office, conveying prohibited items into prison, and supplying a controlled drug. The court heard she smuggled mobile phones, chargers, tobacco, and cannabis into the category B prison, describing herself as 'the prison version of Deliveroo.'
Judge Neil Flewitt KC stated: 'It is hard to imagine a greater betrayal of the public's trust. These were deliberate offences requiring high planning and sophistication.'
Personal downfall
Spree's barrister, Arthur Gibson, argued that she suffered from low self-esteem and was manipulated by the inmates, noting that her actions were 'like a teenager's first love' rather than those of a divorced woman in her late 50s. She had a tattoo of a bee with a heart and the word 'Masterpiece' on her chest, a nickname used by the prisoners.
Spree has since lost her home and is now unemployed. The judge emphasized that while she was manipulated, she was not coerced and was fully aware of the risks.
Porterfield received a 22-month suspended sentence, while Westall was given an additional 12 months to run concurrently with his life sentence for manslaughter. His brother, Michael Westall, 28, who helped Spree bring contraband into the prison, received a 20-month suspended sentence. The unnamed inmate was jailed for two years and 10 months.
Detective Superintendent Claire McGuire of the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit condemned Spree's actions as 'a calculated and sustained abuse of a position that exists solely to protect the welfare and rights of people in custody.'
Independent monitoring board members are volunteers who ensure prisoner treatment is fair, just, and humane. Spree's betrayal has undermined the integrity of the system and public trust.
