Trio tried bringing 'extremist' material into jail

Three people have been sentenced for conspiring to smuggle mobile phones, Sim cards and USB sticks containing sermons that encourage violence into a prison.

Rhea Wood, Mohammed Abdo and serving prisoner Abdullah Mohammed tried to smuggle the items into HMP Lindholme, near Doncaster, in May 2023 before they were intercepted by prison staff.

Wood, 36, and Mohammed, 33, pleaded guilty to conspiring to bring a prohibited article into a prison and were sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday.

Abdo, 36 and of Addie Street in Sheffield, had already been sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for the same charge in December.

Mohammed, of Roe Lane in Sheffield, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Wood had previously been sentenced to two years and one month imprisonment for dissemination of terrorist publications concerning videos of ISIS propaganda that she had shared on a Pinterest account.

Wood, currently of HMP New Hall, was handed an 18-month sentence on Friday, to run concurrently.

She will also be subject to a 10-year terrorism notification order on release from prison.

According to Counter Terrorism Policing North East (CTPNE), the eight USB sticks and other devices contained materials of an extremist nature as well as personal photos and details.

Det Ch Supt James Dunkerley, head of CTPNE, said the content on the USBs and Wood's devices had been "extreme, violent and divisive".

"Anyone seeking to share such material will be brought to justice," he said.

Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, paid tribute to "our vigilant staff".

"This case sends a clear message that anyone attempting to smuggle illicit items into our prisons will be caught and brought to justice.

"We will continue working relentlessly to stop criminals undermining the security of our prisons."

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