21 People Charged Over Alleged HMP Gartree Smuggling Plot
Written by HFM News on 25th June 2026
A total of 21 people have been charged following an investigation into the alleged smuggling of cannabis and mobile phones into HMP Gartree near Market Harborough.
The charges follow a lengthy investigation by detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit’s Regional Prison Intelligence Unit.
Police allege the offences took place between June and October 2022 and involved attempts to bring cannabis and mobile phones into the prison.
Among those charged is Jamie Speirs, 30, of Rugby, who was a serving prison officer at HMP Gartree at the time of the alleged offences.
He has been charged with misconduct in a public office, two counts of conspiracy to supply a Class B drug and two counts of conspiracy to convey a prohibited article into a prison.
Gartree Prison
Pic: Andy Carpenter
A further 20 people have been charged with conspiracy to supply a Class B drug and conspiracy to convey a prohibited article into a prison.
Those charged include a number of serving prisoners at jails across England, including HMP Gartree, as well as people from Leicester, Liverpool, London, Cambridgeshire, Staffordshire, Kent and Worcestershire.
All 21 defendants are due to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
