Former officer jailed after anti-corruption detectives uncover relationship with murderer from previous role in prison service

A former police officer has been jailed after our anti-corruption detectives uncovered her relationship with a convicted murderer from her time as a prison officer in Lancashire.

Stephanie Heaps – now known as Stephanie Ramsden – did not declare that she was in an intimate relationship with Leon ‘Layton’ Ramsden (35) – who is on a life sentence for murder – while she worked in her previous role at HMP Wymott in Leyland.

Images show Stephanie Heaps visiting Leon 'Layton' Ramsden in prison 

Our investigation not only revealed Heaps’ levels of deceit in getting a job at the police, we also found her links to an organised crime group – associated to Ramsden – which was involved in money laundering, drug dealing, and a conspiracy to burgle an address in St Helens in November 2019.

Heaps (32), who joined GMP as a PC based in Bolton in July 2019, had worked as a prison officer since March 2018 before pursuing a career in the police where she did not declare any links to criminals or criminal activity.

Our Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) was made aware of Heaps’ links to an inmate at HMP Wymott and, in September 2019, began an investigation, under supervision of the Independent Office of Police Conduct, aimed at finding evidence that corroborated the information we had been given.

A computer generated image of Stephanie and Leon marrying posted on social media

Four months of tireless investigative work uncovered evidence of Heaps often visiting Leon Ramsden in prison, contacting him via illicit phones he had in his cell, and sharing sensitive police information with him.

On one occasion while on duty, Heaps failed to arrest a wanted domestic abuse suspect while responding to an incident, due to the suspect being an associate of Ramsden’s.

We arrested Heaps in January 2020 and detectives probed her with the mount of evidence that they had compiled. She gave a ‘no comment’ interview and weeks later resigned from the force.

We worked with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the prison service to produce a compelling case that led to Heaps pleading guilty in October 2022 to the following offences:

• Misconduct in a public office as a police officer at GMP
• Misconduct in a public officer as a prison officer at HMP Wymott
• Intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence after conducting telephone conversations with Ramsden through illegal mobile phones.
• Conspiracy to commit burglary after a burglary in St Helens.
• Conspiracy to transfer, conceal and convert criminal property regarding the money laundering of Ramsden’s drugs money.

At Bolton Crown Court today (4 July), Heaps was sentenced to serve four years and three months behind bars. At an accelerated misconduct hearing in October 2023 she was barred from policing.

Ramsden, of HMP Berwyn, was sentenced to five years and seven months, to run concurrently with his current sentence.

Detective Chief Inspector Jennifer Adams, of our Anti-Corruption Unit, said: “During our investigation, we were shocked by the actions of Stephanie Heaps and her brazen disregard for the standards required for both her roles in the police and the prison service.

“As soon as we were made aware of Heaps’ potential relationship with Ramsden, we conducted a number of detailed enquiries to ensure that the maximum amount of evidence about her offending could be collated so she could be held accountable for the full extent of her crimes.

“It’s clear Heaps should never be trusted to serve the public, and it is testament to the investigation team that she was only in uniform for a matter of months before she was taken away from frontline duties for good and now put rightly behind bars along with Ramsden and his associates.”

Alan Richardson, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: “Stephanie Heaps was in a position of trust both as a prison officer and later a police officer.

“She knew that her actions created a serious conflict of interest and entirely compromised the trusted positions she held.

“The CPS worked hard with Greater Manchester Police to build a strong case. The strength of the evidence was such that Heaps had no option but accepts her guilt.  

“Heaps will now face the consequences of her actions.”

Also sentenced today were:

• Philip Markland (40), of Bardon Close, was sentenced to 22 months for conspiracy to commit burglary at an address in St Helens. 
• Lee Ramsden, (52), Bleak Street, was sentenced to 15 months suspended for 18 months, 25 rehabilitation days and a six-month home detention curfew between 7pm and 6am everyday, for conspiracy to transfer, conceal and convert criminal property.
• Clifford McCarthy (35), Larkfield Grove, was sentenced to 15 months suspended for two years, 200 hours community service and ten rehabilitation days for conspiracy to transfer, conceal and convert criminal property.
• Joanne Campbell (48), Gisburn Avenue, was sentenced to 13 months suspended for 18 months, 25 rehabilitation days and referred to support services for conspiracy to transfer, conceal and convert criminal property.

All addresses are of Bolton.