Prison guard on trial accused of stealing from inmates

A guard at Birmingham Prison has gone on trial accused of stealing from inmates.

Police who raided Sam Turton’s home found body piercing jewellery and a mobile phone belonging to prisoners, a jury was told.

The 27-year-old, who worked as an operational support grade officer at the Winson Green jail, was charged after the items were found in his personal safe in May last year.

Three bags belonging to three different prisoners were found, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

John Evans, prosecuting, said Turton, who denies three counts of theft, had the chance to take the bags during his duties at the prison between May 2011 and his arrest.

He said the defendant, of Hembs Crescent, Hamstead, later claimed to have found all three bags at a tram stop in Winson Green.

Mr Evans told jurors: “These people had been in prison at different times, certainly leaving at different times.

“We suggest what was happening was happening over a period of time.

“He claims, miraculously, these people in prison at various times all had property belonging to them coming together on one occasion for this defendant to find them.”Mr Evans said that excuse was “not reasonably plausible”.

He added: “It is patently obvious from the evidence, by whatever means we can’t say, he is taking items knowing the system, and ultimately retaining them for himself .”

The bags found in Turton’s safe listed items of jewellery, cash, a wallet and a mobile phone as contents.

But only a few items of piercing jewellery and a phone were found when police raided his home, the court heard.