Jail officer lent prison uniform to drugs smuggler

A SHAMED prison officer is facing jail after over his role in a drugs operation to supply amphetamine.

Russell Baillie, 31, who worked at Cornton Vale women’s prison in Stirling, became involved while off sick.

He gave his uniform to coaccused Lawrence Simonini, 29, who wore it when he drove up from Liverpool with 44lbs of the drug in the boot of his hire car. The amphetamine had a potential street value of £640,000.

Prosecutors believe Simonini was wearing the uniform in a bid to help reassure any police who happened to stop him.

But, unknown to them, undercover officers were tracking the pair. Simonini’s hire car was stopped on the M74 as he headed back to Scotland.

The High Court in Glasgow heard Simonini hired a Toyota Verso in Motherwell on March 20, 2014, and he and Baillie drove down to Liverpool. The amphetamine was loaded into the car and Simonini,

‘Fancy dress party’

wearing Baillie’s prison uniform, drove back to Scotland.

Meanwhile, Baillie caught a train from Liverpool back to Central Station in Glasgow.

Both Baillie, represented by advocate Paul Nelson, and Simonini, who was represented by advocate Louise Arrol. denied any involvement in drugs.

Asked why he gave his uniform to Simonini, Baillie, from Shotts, Lanarkshire, said: ‘He wanted it for a fancy dress party.’

Simonini, of Carfin, Lanarkshire, said he thought he was bringing fake jeans to Glasgow.

However, both men were convicted of being concerned in the supply of amphetamine.

A third man, Joshua Quinn, 26, from Liverpool, was found guilty of being concerned in the supply of the drug on August 21, 2013, on journeys between Renfrew, Larkhall and Paisley.

All three were bailed and will be sentenced next month. Judge John Morris told them: ‘With some hesitation I’m prepared to consider bail, but make no mistake you will be going to jail.’