Fourth man is sentenced over cannabis 'chocolate bar' smuggling plot at prison near Wolverhampton

Loen Burton, aged 30 was involved in the internal prison drug trade at HMP Oakwood, Featherstone and his part in the conspiracy which saw serving prison officer Robert Anderson bring the drugs in to distribute came to light when his telephone was linked to them.

Anderson, from Birmingham, and serving prisoners Waqqas Mughal, aged 36, of Smethwick and Yousef Abdullahi, aged 31 had already been sentenced to more than 11 years collectively for their part in the smuggling, which took place in 2022.

Burton, who has since been moved from Oakwood and who is serving a life term for murder, was jailed for a further 20 months at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday for conspiring to supply a class B controlled drug.

He was also given five months consecutive for transmitting without authority an image or sound from a prison.

The court heard Burton did not play a leading role, with the main man being Abdullahi, and he wasn't linked directly to Anderson but he was involved in the internal distribution of drugs around the prison and had played a 'significant role' in the cannabis plot.

The group’s conviction follows an investigation by officers at the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), which revealed Anderson had been concealing cannabis in Double Decker chocolate bars to bring into the prison.

When he was searched on prison grounds in December 2022, drugs with a prison value of £13,000 were discovered on him.

Officers then searched his home address and found a large quantity of cash and a mobile phone, which showed him having significant contact with inmates.

Further inquiries revealed Mughal had hidden sim cards in his cell which revealed his contact with Anderson as well as several wraps of cannabis.

Cell searches of Abdullahi also revealed illicit mobile phones detailing drug-dealing arrangements made within the prison, with Burton distributing the substances under his direction.

Defending Burton, Earl Pinnock said he had spent most of his adult life behind bars, having gone inside at the age of 17 and said he had become a 'role model' to other prisoners, particularly since he had moved from Oakwood. He said his client was keen to do his sentence and 'move on'.

In sentencing remarks, Judge Richard Grimshaw said he was being as lenient as possible and remarked how Burton’s progress in prison had been marred by the offending, even though he was satisfied he was not the main instigator of it.

He said: "You are a man now and have spent a lot of time in prison but have admirable plans for when you are released and that will very much depend on you."