Mug shots of family who used garden shed in plot to send drug-laced letters into prisons

This are the mug shots of a family who used their Stechford garden shed in a plot to smuggle drug-soaked letters into prisons across the country. Larry Thomas Barnett, 38, roped in his father Larry Graham Barnett, 61, and stepmother Andrea Simpkin, 53, to smuggle spice and mamba disguised as legal letters into jails including HMP Birmingham, HMP Hewell in Worcestershire and HMP Stoke Heath in Shropshire in 2019.

Larry Thomas Barnett was jailed in 2020 for more than 20 years after a series of cash machine raids. During the investigation, several mobile phones were seized and examined which led officers to uncover the drug smuggling enterprise.

The family used their garden shed at their house in Stechford as part of the operation. The drug-soaked papers were disguised as legal letters from a Birmingham based solicitor firm and were posted to multiple prisons in the UK.

READ MORE: Violent footage of Birmingham stabbing emerges online as police launch investigation

Police said the sheets of paper were soaked or sprayed with a synthetic cannabinoid, also known as spice or mamba. This is a substance that mimics the effects of cannabis and cocaine.

By concealing the paper inside envelopes containing private and confidential material, such as legal documents, the letters were not subject to the same level of scrutiny as personal mail. Det Con Vicki Brown, who led the investigation, said: “Forensic tests showed the sheets of paper have been soaked or sprayed with a synthetic cannabinoid, also known as spice or mamba. This is a substance that mimics the effects of cannabis and cocaine.

“The sheets of paper were concealed inside envelopes claiming to contain private and confidential material, such as legal documents, in the hope they wouldn’t be open to the same level of scrutiny as personal mail. This case shows offenders will use increasingly innovative methods to try to smuggle drugs and other banned items into prison – but working with the prison service we are determined to stop the supply and prosecute offenders.”

The investigation revealed the family received thousands of pounds via bank transactions from families and friends of serving inmates. Barnett Junior, aged 38, and previously of Lichfield, was convicted after trial and was sentenced to two years and six months at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday, November 6.

That will run consecutive to the 21-year term for his involvement in a gang who ripped out cash machines from shops and carried out cash-in-transit robberies.

Barnett Senior, aged 61, of Plowden Road, Stechford, admitted the offence and was sentenced to 19 months, suspended for two years. Simpkin, 53, of the same address, was handed a two-year term, suspended for the same period having also confessed to the charge.

HM Prison and Probation Services deputy director Caroline Mersey said: “Diligent staff working in close partnership with West Midlands Police gathered crucial evidence linking these criminals to the distribution of illicit letters - successfully securing their convictions.

“We do not tolerate drugs in our prisons and, as was the case here, people who break the rules face criminal punishment.”