England: Lawyer jailed after illicit calls with prisoner

Dene McClean, 37, communicated with Jonathan Gomez on various illicit phones on more than 500 occasions, it was found.

Mr McClean pleaded guilty to offences relating to illicit communication at Southwark Crown Court and was imprisoned for 42 weeks.

He had represented Mr Gomez, 36, after he was tried for possession of a gun as well as a silencer and ammunition, with intent to endanger life. He was jailed in January 2018.

During his trial, a phone was found and an investigation thereafter found a total of seven.

Mr Gomez was sentenced to an additional nine months on top of the 12 years for his firearm offences.

Acting detective inspector Nick Harvey, who led the investigation, said: “The use of mobile phones in prisons poses a security risk, both within prison and to victims and witnesses of crime. This is why they are strictly prohibited.

“McClean, as a legal professional, undoubtedly knew his actions were illegal and unethical, but the phone evidence showed prolonged contact with a convicted criminal he knew was using phones smuggled into prison.”

Robert Hutchinson, a prosecutor, said: “Dene McClean demonstrated a flagrant disregard for the integrity of the criminal justice system by repeatedly and deliberately flaunting the ban on communicating with prisoners on illegal mobile phones. The possession of these phones can lead to prisoners committing further offences or intimidating witnesses.

“The rules are clear in that legal professionals must use official routes to speak with their clients or they risk bringing the very core of the profession into disrepute.”