THE killer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel has been busted in prison for allegedly dealing drugs and having an illegal mobile phone.
Cocaine, cannabis and an iPhone were found in notorious gangster Thomas Cashman’s cell, sources say.
Drugs and an iPhone were found in notorious gangster Thomas Cashman’s cell[/caption]
Cashman killed nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel[/caption]
The contraband is thought to have been dropped by a drone into the grounds of Long Lartin prison, near Evesham, Worcs.
A source said: “He is said to have been selling drugs on the wing and has established himself there as a top dog. He has totally failed to learn the error of his ways and is still dealing drugs behind bars.”
Cashman was a major drug supplier in Liverpool and making up to £5,000 a week when he shot dead Olivia at her home in the Dovecot area of the city in August 2022.
The father of two fired indiscriminately into the house as he gave chase to rival dealer Joseph Nee and a second man.
He was found guilty of murder and is serving life, with a minimum tariff of 42 years.
But he is suspected of carrying on with dealing drugs on E wing of the Category A jail.
The landing where he is held went into lockdown on Tuesday while an intelligence-led search was carried out.
Our source said: “A substantial amount of cocaine and cannabis was found in his cell which he’d apparently had smuggled in on a drone.
“There was also an iPhone which he is suspected of using to organise drops into the prison grounds by drones operated from outside.”
He now faces the loss of privileges and extra time behind bars following the drug and phone seizure.
The prison holds lifers and inmates serving at least ten years for serious offences — but its security systems were branded “unreliable and faulty” by independent inspectors in a report last year.
They said 86 drones had been spotted, with 31 packages intercepted, while both staff and visitors had been bringing in illicit items.
Restricted fly zones were introduced around jails last year making it an offence for drones to go within 400 yards.
Retired Met Police detective chief inspector Mick Neville said: “It is outrageous that a violent and wicked man like Cashman can make money while serving a life sentence. This will only add to the misery of Olivia’s family.
“Prisoners like Cashman should not be able to obtain drugs in prison. This highlights the threat of drones to prison security which needs to be tightened up.”
The Ministry of Justice declined to discuss Cashman’s case but said: “The availability of drugs and other illicit items in prisons is yet more evidence of the crisis the new Government inherited.
“We have a wide range of security measures in place helping us to seize more contraband and a specialist team to bear down on drugs and serious and organised crime.
“Anyone caught smuggling items into prison will be punished.”
The contraband is thought to have been dropped by a drone into the prison grounds[/caption]
Long Lartin prison, near Evesham, Worcs[/caption]
