Pair jailed for prison drone smuggling plot

Two men who used a drone to smuggle drugs into a prison have been jailed.

Jordan Lee, 30, and Keanu Barnett, 24, were part of a conspiracy to smuggle cannabis and other items into a prison in Nottinghamshire in 2020.

After the drone was used near HMP Ranby, detectives traced the criminals back to Barnett's address in Coventry, where they found the device and packages containing cannabis.

Lee and Barnett both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring a prohibited article into prison and were jailed for 18 and 14 months respectively.

Detectives said mobile phones and sim cards were discovered at the property, and analysis of those showed that Lee would meet Barnett at his home in Coventry, before the pair would drive on to Ranby and fly the drone towards the prison.

Inquiries at the prison discovered a secret mobile phone being used by a prisoner, which contained details of bank transactions to both men.

Lee, of Parkwood Street, in Northampton, and Barnett, of Crediton Close, Coventry, were sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on 4 December.

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