A prison inmate, Mitchell Ingham, convicted of murder and serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 14 years, was found to have used a smuggled iPhone to communicate with a female prison officer and others while at HMP Deerbolt in County Durham. The 25-year-old inmate referred to the officer as “babe” in messages, to which she responded with a “miss you” message. The prison officer, Ellis Eyles, 24, from Darlington, is facing sentencing for her involvement in the illicit communication. Ingham, now at HMP Lindholme in South Yorkshire, appeared in court and admitted to possessing and using the mobile phone inside the prison.
During a search at HMP Deerbolt in June 2023, an iPhone hidden behind a false panel in a cabinet was discovered, leading to Ingham’s connection to the device through messages and photos found on it. Ingham, who referred to himself as ‘Mitch’ in one message, also had conversations with Eyles, where he inquired about another inmate’s location, expressing a desire to harm him. The prosecution revealed that Ingham engaged in unauthorized communication with his accomplices, including lengthy FaceTime calls.
In addition to communicating with the prison officer, Ingham used the phone to contact family members and other individuals. He asked Eyles about a specific prisoner’s whereabouts, hinting at causing harm, and received affectionate messages from her. Ingham’s criminal history includes a life sentence for the murder of Dominic Doyle in Manchester when he was 15, showing no remorse during his sentencing.
In court, Ingham’s defense lawyer mentioned his lack of parole eligibility until 2028 and highlighted his remorse for the offenses. She emphasized his commitment to avoiding future misconduct and acknowledged his participation in educational programs while in prison. The court was informed that other inmates might have accessed the illicit mobile phone as well. Ingham received a nine-month prison term to be served consecutively with his existing life sentence.