Lanarkshire prison officer smuggled drugs into killer at maximun security jail

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Lanarkshire prison officer smuggled cocaine and other drugs into a maximum security jail after befriending a killer. Heather McKenzie, 31, of Forth, bonded with con Zak Malavin while working as an operations officer at HMP Shotts, which houses some of Scotland’s most notorious criminals.

Prison officials and police launched a probe following a surge in drugs being found in the jail.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Intelligence inside led to McKenzie being suspected of bringing drugs and phones into the prison.Malavin, caged for the slaying of a man in a park, had his cell searched in May 2020 which led to an iPhone, cocaine and a sleeping pill being found.A search the following month found two knotted bags with 5.7g of cocaine while data on the iPhone revealed texts and calls to McKenzie.Police raided her home in October 2020 and found £2500 in cash, mobile phones, syringes, steroids, cocaine and benzocaine.Phone analysis revealed a string of messages between Malavin and McKenzie, who met with criminals to be given drugs, phones and money.McKenzie also persuaded another prisoner to stay involved in the scheme after he considered pulling out.At the High Court in Lanark the mother of two admitted supplying Malavin and others with drugs between March and October 2020.