A young prison officer accused of having a sexual relationship with an inmate has told a court she was “threatened, manipulated, and terrified” by a convicted robber who allegedly coerced her into smuggling drugs and buying him gifts.
Isabelle Dale, 23, is on trial over allegations that she became romantically involved with prisoner Shahid Shariff while working at HMP Coldingley in Surrey.
Prosecutors claim she breached prison rules by forming an inappropriate relationship and conspiring to bring drug-laced envelopes into the facility.
The court heard that Shariff, then three years into a twelve-year robbery sentence, was later transferred to HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent following suspicions about his contact with Dale.
Under questioning, Dale claimed she had been intimidated by Shariff, describing him as “manipulative and controlling.” She alleged he forced her to undergo cosmetic surgery and to purchase a ring as a “token of loyalty.”
“I bought the ring as I was instructed by Mr Shariff to prove my loyalty to him,” Dale told the jury. “He threatened to stab me. He told me he hated me and wanted me to die.”
Prosecutors allege Dale helped Shariff smuggle synthetic drugs into prison by assisting with spice-laced letters addressed to inmates. When asked by her defence lawyer Syam Soni if she knew what was inside, Dale said she “wouldn’t have dared to question him.”
“I wondered, but I didn’t want to ask. He was dangerous, and I was scared,” she said.
The jury also heard that Dale claimed Shariff bragged about having sexual contact with other prison officers before her. “He disclosed to me that at HMP Coldingley he had been given oral sex by a previous prison officer,” she testified. “He said it was investigated but no action was taken because there was no evidence.”
Dale told jurors that working conditions at the prison had left her feeling isolated and unsupported. “From the beginning, it became clear the prisoners had more respect for me than some of the staff did,” she said, describing an atmosphere of mistrust and pressure among prison personnel.
She explained that she originally took the job to gain experience for a future career in policing, but her ambitions began to crumble after meeting Shariff. “I wanted to join the police and thought this would give me insight into the justice system,” she said. “But it quickly became a nightmare.”
The court also heard that Dale exchanged messages with another inmate, Connor Money, who had access to a prohibited mobile phone. When asked why she responded, she said: “When he first messaged me it wasn’t anything malicious. I thought he was someone I could talk to. I felt supported.”
Dale said she did not feel comfortable reporting that Money had a phone, fearing retaliation from inmates and little backing from her superiors.
Legal analysts say the case underscores ongoing concerns about inmate manipulation of prison staff, a problem that has led to several disciplinary inquiries in the UK prison system.
HMP Coldingley, a Category C training prison, has faced prior scrutiny over staff-inmate relationships. A 2023 inspection report noted “instances of boundary breaches” and “inadequate staff supervision.”
The Prison Service has not commented on the ongoing trial but said it “takes any allegations of misconduct extremely seriously” and that officers found guilty of inappropriate conduct face dismissal and prosecution.
Dale denies all charges, insisting she was a victim of coercion rather than a willing participant. The trial at Guildford Crown Court continues.
