Masked criminals throw drugs over 20ft prison wall to inmates in jail
Moment masked criminals invade back gardens to throw packages of drugs over 20ft prison wall to inmates in jail
- Masked criminals filmed throwing drugs over 20ft prison wall to inmates in jail
- Residents have told how their children are too scared to enter their own gardens
- Gangs are said to text convicts at Chelmsford Prison, Essex to arrange pick-ups
This is the shocking moment criminals throw drugs over a prison wall to inmates in jail from terrified residents’ back gardens.
The masked thugs are seen hurling packages containing heroin, cannabis, cocaine and other drugs over the prison’s 20-foot security wall and into a prisoner recreation area.
Residents have told how their children are too scared to enter their gardens as the criminals, believed to be from London gangs, target their homes on a weekly in the mornings during inmates’ recreation time.
Gang members are said to text convicts inside Chelmsford Prison, Essex to arrange pick-up dates and have even used a nearby primary school as a drug-throwing launch pad.
A resident’s CCTV footage shows one hoodie-clad thug climbing over a garden fence at 9.30am with a plastic shopping bag believed to be filled with drug parcels.
Wearing all black, the male picks the drug parcels out of his bag and hurls them into the air towards the prison, which houses sex offenders and drug dealers.
Another clip shows the criminals breaking into a garden at night – apparently to practice throwing drugs into the prison by using potatoes and oranges.
One mum-of-three, who caught gang members throwing drugs in her garden, said: ‘You just don’t feel safe in your own house.
‘It’s a b***** nightmare. You shouldn’t have to live like this.’
The 42-year-old, who asked not to be named, added: ‘I need something to protect me and my kids – they won’t go into the garden.
‘If we call the police by the time they get here they’re gone.
‘We’ve had teens jumping our garden gate and fence. They’re scaring the s*** out of my kids.’
One neighbour was seen punching a criminal who invaded his garden before chasing him away with a knife.
A resident’s CCTV footage shows one hoodie-clad thug climbing over a garden fence at 9.30am with a plastic shopping bag believed to be filled with drug parcels
It is believed that the packages – wrapped in cling film and parcel tape – are hurled into the prison’s recreation area during the mid-morning, when inmates take an outdoor break.
The drug packages are slim and tube-shaped, apparently to allow inmates to conceal them in their rectum, and are weighed down with penny coins to help them travel through the air into the prison.
A former prison guard said that gangs from London were responsible for the drug throwing, which had been happening for more than 15 years.
The guard, who asked to remain anonymous, said: ‘It’s been going on for years and years even before I started there.
‘The prison are pretty hot on it tho as they have people who scour the fences but unfortunately you will find it’s a lot of the London gangs who come down and hope to get it in the prison.’
Police have attempted to deter the gangs by waiting outside the semi-detached homes when they strike, but locals say that the criminals now recognise the police vehicles.
Chelmsford Prison – a Category B institution – houses around 700 criminals, as well as a young offenders institution.
In August, the prison watchdog said that HMP Chelmsford suffered ‘chronic failings’ with the supply of drugs being a ‘clear threat’.
Previous searches of inmates have uncovered cannabis, heroin and cocaine.
The criminals have mainly targeted gardens on Springfield Park Road, which runs parallel to the prison.
A hooded figure climbs over a garden fence with a ‘drug-filled’ parcel, purportedly for inmates in jail
Councillor Julia Frascona said that police faced a ‘constant battle’ to deter the drug throwers, adding they also used the grounds at the nearby Springfield Primary School.
She said: ‘It’s been an issue and continues to be an issue. There’s communication going on from inside and outside the prison.
‘They’re targeting areas inside the prison where these things can be picked up. It sounds scary, particularly with the school and security of the site.
‘As far as I know, the prison service and police have perimeter patrols.’
Earlier this month, police and the prison service held a meeting with residents to discuss the drug throwing and other issues related to the prison, including loud music during the daytime.
Essex Police arrested three men earlier this year in connection with throwing drugs into the prison.
Councillor Julia Frascona said: ‘It’s been an issue and continues to be an issue. There’s communication going on from inside and outside the prison’
One resident, Madeline, 62, said the gang members throwing the drugs often arrived at houses wearing a black puffer jacket, jogging bottoms and a mask.
She added: ‘It’s scary that you could by in your garden and they suddenly appear.
‘They used to run from the other side of the road and jump the fence and then throw the things.
‘The worrying thing is if you were to intervene – you hear a lot about weapons – if they’re that desperate then it’s something you’re aware of.
‘They hop over and run into the garden. They spend a few minutes throwing the packages into the prison grounds and then get picked up in a car.’
One resident, Madeline, 62, said the gang members throwing the drugs often arrived at houses wearing a black puffer jacket, jogging bottoms and a mask
Madeline said: ‘It’s scary that you could by in your garden and they suddenly appear.’ Another resident has been forced to install a two-foot extension to her garden gate to stop the thugs from jumping over
The masked thugs were seen hurling packages containing heroin, cannabis, cocaine and other drugs over the prison’s 20-foot security wall and into a prisoner recreation area
Another resident has been forced to install a two-foot extension to her garden gate to stop the thugs from jumping over.
The 56-year-old, who asked not to be named, said: ‘We contacted the prison and the police but no one got back to us.
‘The prisoners are out from 9.30am to 10.30am – that’s when we know to look out for the throwers.
‘I’ve watched them throwing from my window. You can see the packages – one, two, three – it’s countless.
‘Someone once saw them throw 40 packages.’
A resident has called for the prison service to relocate the inmates’ recreation area so that it doesn’t run alongside neighbours’ gardens, but they say their request has been ignored.
Essex Police and the Ministry of Justice were contacted for comment.
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