Chatting with a Salford prisoner on a banned mobile phone that he later used to escape from a prison van has seen a legal representative jailed today for six months.
Sarah McCabe, 33, of New Cross Street, Swinton, Salford, admitted intentionally encouraging or assisting an either way offence at an earlier hearing.
McCabe was representing 20-year-old Ryan McDonald who was sprung from a prison van on Regent Road on April 30 along with another man while on his way to court for sentence.
After his capture he was sentenced to seven years and ten months for a series of armed robberies in Salford.
The legal representative sent text messages to her client while on remand March 22 and April 23 knowing full well that that the phone was contraband and her client had it in his possession illegally.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Reade, said: “There are routes and channels that legal representatives have to go through when they want to speak to a client.
“Sarah McCabe is a qualified and experienced legal representative who is fully aware of the law in relation to the contacting of clients on contraband phones.
“It goes without saying she is also fully aware of the consequences and it is therefore surprising that she would take such risks.
“As a result she has ended up with a criminal conviction, a prison sentence and the prospect of losing a potentially promising career.”
Picture courtesy of Publik15 via Flickr, with thanks.
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