Deputy governor denies illegal check on inmate

A deputy prison governor and ex-prisoner acted together to carry out illegal checks on inmates using a computer system, a court has heard.

Peter Nichols, who held a number of senior roles at Wormwood Scrubs jail in Hammersmith, west London, allegedly acted with convicted criminal Gareth Casella, 43, to carry out computer checks on prison systems in late 2021.

Mr Nichols, 49, also asked his wife Jessica Nichols, 42, who was head of security at young offender institution HMP Feltham, to carry out an unauthorised check, Southwark Crown Court heard.

He denies 10 counts of causing a computer to perform a function with intent to secure unauthorised access to data and Mrs Nichols denied one count.

Casella, from Egham, Surrey, has also denied 10 counts of the same offence and one charge of failure to comply with a notice.

Ben Lloyd, prosecuting, told the court that Mrs Nichols went to school with Casella and that Peter Nichols and Casella were "close associates".

Casella was sentenced to six months in prison in January 2019 for dangerous driving, drug driving and resisting a constable. He was detained at HMP Wandsworth, the court heard.

Mr Nichols had worked at the west London prison since 2009 and held a number of positions including head of intelligence and head of business assurance.

Mrs Nichols had worked at Feltham prison since about 2017 and was head of security.

A few days after Casella was sentenced, Mr Nichols messaged a colleague in the prison service saying "Hello mate, if you get time can you look at the case notes of Gareth Casella, my mate at wanno, just want to know he's OK", the prosecution said.

Mr Nichols "clearly" was aware of Casella's previous conviction and imprisonment, Mr Lloyd added.

Peter and Jessica Nichols, from Chertsey, Surrey, "would have been aware of the relevant policies" and Mr Lloyd said the prosecution's case was that the access was "not authorised".

The trial continues.

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