Thousands of mobile Sim cards in prisons jury told

David Thompson, who later was also Governor at another high security jail, Frankland Prison in Co Durham, was giving evidence at the trial at Leeds Crown Court of four health centre staff at Wakefield accused of misconduct by failing to report a rapist jailed for life had a phone.

Yesterday he told the court because Sim cards were so small they could be hidden in intimate places which prison staff were not allowed to search.

One of the defendants, prison nurse Karen Cosford is also alleged to have had a sexual relationship with the prisoner concerned, Brian McBride, and she and a colleague Carolyn Flynn, are accused of buying mobile phone top ups for him.

Mobile phones were among contraband items seized from McBride in September 2009 when inquiries began into his relationship with Cosford. He was transferred to Frankland where Mr Thompson was then governor.

He knew McBride from his days at Wakefield. Mr Thompson said when he saw him after his transfer McBride was “quite distressed” and told him because of the discovery of phones he believed he was going to be made up from a category B prisoner to a category A.

McBride said he would also be accused of rape and protested his innocence, saying he had Sim cards which would prove it.

The jury has heard Cosford has denied their affair was consensual and alleged she was raped by McBride.

Mr Thompson said after his move to Frankland Sim cards were seized from McBride.

He agreed under cross-examination by Andrew Stubbs QC, defending Cosford, that he was Governor at Wakefield when high profile inmate Ian Huntley was there.

He was asked whether he was anxious to ensure Huntley remained safe and did not die. Mr Thompson replied: “I didn’t want anyone to die on my watch.”

Mr Stubbs suggested that when Huntley was staging a hunger strike in cell seven at the health centre when McBride was in cell eight, it had been helpful to have more than the staff’s “eyes and ears” watching out for him, such as an inmate passing on information.

Mr Thompson said it helped whenever prisoners aided staff rather than hindered them.

He denied at that time spending frequent periods with McBride in his cell or telling him the then health care governor would be a useful contact.

Cosford, 47 of Marston Walk, Altofts, Wakefield and Falloon 50 of Manor Crescent, Walton, Wakefield each deny three charges of misconduct, Jacqueline Flynn, 46 of the Leys, South Kirkby, two charges and David Sutherland, 49 of Millcroft, Lofthouse, Wakefield denies one.

The trial continues.