Legal Consultant Jailed for Prison Phone Smuggling Scandal
Dene McClean, 37, from Enfield, has been slammed with 42 weeks behind bars at Southwark Crown Court. He admitted illegally transmitting images and sounds from prison, breaking the law under the Prison Act 1952.
Prisoner and Consultant Caught in Phone Racket
McClean’s partner in crime? Jonathan Gomez, 36, locked up in HMP Wormwood Scrubs. Gomez also copped an extra nine months for smuggling phone communications from inside. Gomez, a convicted firearm offender, was sentenced to 12 years back in 2018 after a trial where McClean acted as his legal rep.
Secret Phone Calls Uncovered During Trial
- A court security guard found a mobile phone on Gomez during the trial.
- Investigators discovered seven phones linked to Gomez, used to chat with McClean.
- Between Sept 2016 and Aug 2017, there were 544 calls, texts, and missed calls totaling over 16 hours.
- Shockingly, 27 minutes of calls happened while Gomez was on the witness stand—strictly forbidden for any defendant.
Police Slam McClean’s ‘Illegal and Unethical’ Conduct
“The use of mobile phones in prisons poses a serious security risk,” said Acting Detective Inspector Nick 1 of Specialist Crime North. “McClean, a legal professional, blatantly ignored the law and ethics. He knew Gomez was smuggling phones but kept up contact for over a year instead of reporting it.”
Now, McClean faces a criminal record and jail time for betraying his professional duty and aiding corrupt prison phone use.
