‘Some of major drugs gang bosses were on C wing’

Contraband ranging from heroin to mobile phones was the currency which prisoners lived by and jail staff knew about.

However, this week, after two inmates were found guilty of killing a fellow prisoner over drugs, a spokesman for the Home Office flatly denied the Warrington prison was rife with these illegal problems.

Meanwhile, HMP Risley also refused to comment.

Despite the denials, the four-week trial revealed gangs from the Merseyside and Greater Manchester areas - where Risley traditionally took its inmates from - dominated the prison.

Kevin Williams, the prison's third senior governor at the time of the murder, said: "Some of the major gang bosses in drug supply would be located on C wing. At that time, there was a significant drugs problem in Risley.

"The information supported that most of the drugs were coming from Merseyside and Greater Manchester."

But problems increased when shortages in the prison system meant that some offenders from the Midlands - including murder victim Patrick Butler and his killers, Nelson and Gordon, all from Wolverhampton - had to be housed in north west jails.

Courtenay Griffiths, defending Gordon, said: "That has caused tension within prisons like Risley.

"It is a fact that gangs from Merseyside and Greater Manchester controlled Risley Prison in terms of illegal activity.

"The majority of incidents of bullying stem from drugs or mobile phones - the contraband of choice in Risley."

At that time, a quarter of prisoners at Risley tested positive for drug use.

It has come to light that drugs were thrown over the prison walls to waiting dealers inside.

Allegations were also made that gang members were given elevated positions on prison wings such as working in the canteens.

And drug dealing was not limited to prisoners. In January last year, Dave Bentley, a prison officer at HMP Risley, admitted smuggling cannabis, diet pills and mobile phones in crisp packets for prisoners.