£2m drug gang lynchpin had six-month affair with prison officer

A £2m drug gang lynchpin from Newport had a six-month affair with a prison officer. Jerome Nunes, 35, was jailed for 12 years in 2019 for his involvement in an eight-man gang which was responsible for bringing in and distributing £2m of cocaine throughout Newport and the surrounding areas. He is back before the courts again after a secret relationship he had with a former prison custody officer was exposed. Jade Morris, 37, carried out a secret romantic relationship with the serving prisoner using a prohibited mobile phone. She pleaded guilty in March at Birmingham Crown Court to misconduct in a public office and to encouraging Nunes to use a prohibited device. Nunes pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates' Court to two offences under the Prison Act 1952 for possessing and using an unauthorised mobile phone. The relationship between the pair was uncovered in October 2022 when a mobile phone was recovered after being thrown from a window of a prison. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here Evidence showed "sustained communication", between the two over a six-month period between July 2022 and January 2023, the CPS said. Nunes appeared in the dock next to Morris, of Holmer in Herefordshire, for sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday but the hearing was adjourned as the judge was unavailable. The judge, Recorder Ben Close KC, who heard the case in the absence of Judge Richard Bond, apologised for the delay in sentencing the pair due to “circumstances beyond everyone’s control”. He told the defendants: “Miss Morris, Mr Nunes, as you have heard, the earliest date that can sensibly be accommodated for your sentencing is August 13. “There are circumstances beyond everyone’s control that mean you cannot be sentenced today, which I apologise for. You will continue to enjoy unconditional bail until that date.” Georgina Davies, a senior crown prosecutor from the CPS, previously said: "Prison officers hold positions of significant trust and responsibility. The public are entitled to expect that those working within the prison system will act with integrity and always maintain clear professional boundaries. "This case involved a sustained and deliberate breach of that trust. Jade Morris knew that prisoners should not have access to mobile phones yet chose to engage in a prolonged relationship with Nunes, directly facilitating his criminal offending and undermining the security of the prison in which she worked. "The Crown Prosecution Service worked closely with the police to build a case which reflected the seriousness of this misconduct, leaving both defendants no option but to plead guilty. We hope this case sends a clear message that those who abuse positions of public trust will be held to account." Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice .