A man convicted of murder managed to use a forbidden iPhone to make video calls and send messages to a prison officer and family members while serving a life sentence in a North East prison.
Mitchell Ingham, who received a life sentence for murder in 2016 with a minimum term of 14 years, was found to have used the illicit device while held at HMP Deerbolt in County Durham. The 25-year-old started utilizing the unauthorized iPhone to communicate with a female prison officer and various other individuals.
During court proceedings, it was revealed that Ingham referred to the prison officer as “babe” in one message, to which the officer responded with a message expressing “miss you.”
Ellis Eyles, a 24-year-old prison officer from Darlington involved in the communication, is set to be sentenced next month for her role in the incidents. Ingham also inquired about another inmate whom he wanted to see harmed.
Ingham, now serving his sentence at HMP Lindholme in South Yorkshire, recently appeared at Durham Crown Court to face sentencing for offenses related to the possession and use of a mobile phone in prison. He pleaded guilty to both charges.
The court was informed that in June 2023, a search conducted in a prisoner’s cell at HMP Deerbolt uncovered an iPhone and charger hidden behind a false panel in a cabinet. The phone was examined and directly linked to Ingham due to the messages and photos found on it, according to Chronicle Live.
It was disclosed in court that Ingham signed off one message as ‘Mitch’ and also searched for himself online while sending various messages to Eyles, who was later apprehended at her home.
Prosecutor Antonia Adie stated that “The defendant engaged in illicit communication with his co-accused, including various FaceTime calls. On June 10, 2023, a FaceTime call was made lasting 37 minutes.”
Ingham also received a message from Eyles saying “miss you” with kisses, and he referred to the prison officer as “babe” in one message.
Ms. Adie further revealed that Ingham used the phone to communicate with family members, including his mother, along with “other individuals.” She added, “On July 25, 2023, the defendant asked [Eyles] the location of another prisoner in Deerbolt, telling her ‘getting him done in’. She informed him he was in the segregation unit.”
The court was informed that Ingham had two prior convictions for four offenses. In 2016, at the age of 15, he was given a life sentence for the murder of Dominic Doyle in the Manchester area.
The Manchester Evening News reported that he displayed “no remorse and swaggered into the dock smiling” during his sentencing hearing.
Ingham’s defense lawyer, Jillian Newton, mentioned that Ingham is not eligible for parole until 2028 and that his best mitigation was his early guilty plea. She stated, “It is the first time he has offended [behind bars] and has expressed remorse for his actions.”
“He absolutely doesn’t want to end up in this position again. He wishes to inform the court that he understands the seriousness of his actions,” she added.
Newton noted that Ingham has spent his time in prison “wisely” by taking several courses. The court was also informed that the mobile phone may have been accessed by other inmates.
Judge Nathan Adams sentenced Ingham to a nine-month prison term, to be served consecutively with his life sentence.