Prison officer smuggled cocaine into maximum security jail after befriending Scots killer
30.01.2023 - 08:03
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A prison officer smuggled cocaine and other drugs into a maximum security jail after befriending a killer.
Heather McKenzie, 31, bonded with con Zak Malavin while working as an operations officer at HMP Shotts, which houses some of Scotland’s most notorious criminals.
Prison officials and police launched a probe following a surge in drugs being found in the jail.
Intelligence inside led to McKenzie being suspected of bringing drugs and phones into the prison.
Malavin, caged for the slaying of a man in a park, had his cell searched in May 2020 which led to an iPhone, cocaine and a sleeping pill being found.
A search the following month found two knotted bags with 5.7g of cocaine while data on the iPhone revealed texts and calls to McKenzie.
Police raided her home in Forth, Lanarkshire, in October 2020 and found £2500 in cash, mobile phones, syringes, steroids, cocaine and benzocaine.
Phone analysis revealed a string of messages between Malavin and McKenzie, who met with criminals to be given drugs, phones and money.
McKenzie also persuaded another prisoner to stay involved in the scheme after he considered pulling out.
At the High Court in Lanark the mother of two admitted supplying Malavin and others with drugs between March and October 2020. She also admitted giving Malavin an illicit phone and a SIM card.
Prosecutor Graeme Jessop said a joint operation by the Scottish Prison Service and Police Scotland into corruption by jail staff began in March 2020.
He added: “The accused was identified as one of the prison officers suspected to be introducing controlled drugs, mobile devices and other articles into the prison.
Further, consistent intelligence was received purporting the accused had formed a close relationship with a