A PRISON nurse who struck up a relationship with an inmate has been jailed for smuggling mobile phones and drugs into cells.

Ann Wright was one of five people sentenced for crimes committed at Lewes Prison between September and November 2014.

Wright, 45, of Wadhurst Close, Eastbourne, had worked as a nurse at the prison for seven years part-time for Sussex Partnership NHS Trust and at Eastbourne District Hospital when she became involved with Liam Newman, who was on remand.

Wright arranged to smuggle in two phones and the then legal-high called spice into the prison with the help Jess Osbourne, a friend of another prisoner.

The Sussex Police Serious Organised Crime Unit rumbled the conspiracy and three mobile phones were seized.

Two mobile phones, a charger and batteries were found hidden in a sock in a bucket in Newman and fellow inmate Matthew Johnson's cell on October 10, 2014. Wright's contact details were found on the phone.

Newman even obtained another mobile after the cell search and planned with Wright to smuggle more into prison.

She was sent to jail for 20 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convey prohibited articles - mobile phones and the drug spice - into the prison and also for misconduct in public office.

Messages on the phones also revealed Nicholas Nolan, who was working on behalf of Wannops Solicitors in Worthing, had unlawful communication via a mobile phone with Johnson, who he was visiting.

The 64-year-old was in contact with a prisoner illegally more than 60 times over the following weeks. Nolan, of Lansdowne Road, Worthing, was sentenced to 10 months in jail for the crime.

Both Johnson, 25, a roofer, of Stoney Lane, Shoreham, and Newman, 30, of Buci Crescent, Shoreham, were handed 13 month jail terms. Police have not disclosed why the pair were in custody at the time of the offences.

Sales assistant Osbourne, 21, of Cedar Close, Lancing, was handed a two year suspended sentence, given a curfew and a drug treatment order.

Judge Paul Tain, sentencing at Lewes Crown Court, said: "Any breach of the security systems within a prison is a serious matter. It saddens and surprises me to see a person such as Nolan involved."

Detective constable Will Thomas, of SOCU, said: "This sends out a clear message that we will work with our partners in the prison service and health services to help detect and deter such offending."