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The kingpin of a drugs gang caught operating from behind the walls of North East prisons has been jailed for more than ten years.

Serving inmate Shaun Mason and fellow prisoners Gladstone Allen and Scott Wilson conspired with others to smuggle drugs into HMP Northumberland and HMP Durham. Newcastle Crown Court heard that a prison nurse even helped the gang smuggle contraband behind bars.

A probe was first launched back in August 2022 by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) and the Counter Corruption Teams at the two prisons. A search of 34-year-old Mason's cell uncovered a secret compartment inside a speaker which hid a WIFI device, a smartphone, phone charger, USB stick and an HDMI Switch box – all of which are prohibited items within prison.

The items were seized and hundreds of hours were spent downloading, decoding and reviewing voice notes, images, texts and emails unearthing the plot. During the investigation it was revealed that Mason had been working with two other prisoners, Allen, 33 and Wilson, 35 to brings drugs into both HMP Northumberland and HMP Durham.

Further enquiries uncovered a further five offenders involved - Peter Swinney, 23,, Alexandra Wallace, 30, Kalvin Thomas, 26, prison nurse, Kimberly Finn, 33 and Mason's sister, Kayleigh Mason,........

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