In a major development in South Yorkshire Police’s investigation into the largest drug and weapon prison smuggling conspiracy in the UK, 57-year-old William Francis has become the 17th defendant to be sentenced. Francis received a prison term of three years and 11 months, following the sentencing of his 16 co-conspirators in October 2023. Together, the 17 defendants have been handed a collective total of over 88 years in prison.
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The court heard that 38-year-old mental health nursing assistant Amy Hatfield had collaborated with the other defendants to smuggle drugs, knives, and mobile phones into HMP Lindholme in Doncaster, with an estimated value of over £1 million. Hatfield was apprehended on October 24, 2019, as she arrived for work. During her arrest, officers discovered a significant quantity of illegal items in her possession, including MDMA, ketamine, spice paper, testosterone vials, anabolic steroids, mobile phones, phone accessories, tobacco, and other prescription drugs. Notably, she was also found carrying four Ribena bottles filled with approximately two litres of liquid spice, valued at over £1 million.
