A WOMAN working in a healthcare role has been put behind bars after smuggling drugs into a Warrington prison.

She is one of three people to be jailed today, Tuesday, for a total of 34 years in prison following a police investigation into drug dealing.

Megan Woodham appeared before Liverpool Crown Court after being found guilty in December of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely cocaine, following a two-week trial.

The 30-year-old, of Ormskirk Road in Wigan, was also convicted of conspiracy to supply class B drugs, namely ketamine.

The court heard how she smuggled the illegal substance into HMP Risley when she worked at the Warrington Road facility as a health care assistant.

Woodham appeared before judge Stuart Driver via videolink from custody this afternoon, where she was sentenced to six years in prison.

She was joined by Daniel Doran, aged 32 and of Hall Lane in Tower Hill, Kirkby, and Kelsey Higgins, aged 26 and of Ridgewood Way in Bootle.

Warrington Guardian: Daniel Doran and Kelsey Higgins were also jailedDaniel Doran and Kelsey Higgins were also jailed (Image: Merseyside Police)

Doran was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, while Higgins was incarcerated for 13 and a half years – both for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

A further defendant, Valerie Doran, aged 54 and of Hall Lane in Tower Hill, Kirkby, was found guilty of money laundering. She is due to be sentenced on January 20.

The investigation is in connection with a previous conviction of John Butler, aged 27 and of Clements Way in Tower Hill, who was found in possession of 10 kgs of cocaine with an estimated street value of £1million in January last year.

Patrols stopped a black Volkswagen car driven by Butler carrying the 10kgs of cocaine on Heysham Road in Netherton last January.

He was jailed for eight years at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Warrington Guardian:

DS Peter Sloan, from Merseyside Police, said: “We welcome this latest sentencing of Doran, Woodham and Higgins today, which highlights the fact that we will leave no stone unturned.

“This was a complex investigation which has developed from the arrest of Butler and a subsequent investigation resulted from that stop check.

“Organised crime is hugely damaging to our communities, often involving intimidation, violence and creating fear and it is these criminals who run county lines.

“Criminals involved in organised crime have no thought for anyone other than themselves, their criminal intent and their greed.

“I would ask anyone who has any information about who is supplying or selling drugs in their area to contact us so we can take action.”