Prison governor and his wife accused of taking bribes from criminal gangs for sensitive data

A Wormwood Scrubs governor and his wife, the prison chief, have been charged in an anti-corruption investigation.

Pete Nichols – corruption prevention manager at the B-category prison – is said to have been paid by criminal gangs for classified information.

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He is charged with computer crimes along with his wife Jessica, a governor of the HMP Feltham facility for young offenders.

They are suspected of logging into the prison service system in late 2021 to obtain sensitive information.

A source said: “This has been taken very seriously. It sent shockwaves through the system.”

Pete Nichols, 47, is one of the most senior prison officers to be prosecuted.

He has helped police track a couple who smuggled contraband into the Scrubs in west London and is often cited by the Prisons Anti-Corruption Service.

His wife, 41, is one of the senior officers at Feltham, also in west London

The Surrey couple are said to have both been suspended from duty.

They are charged alongside Gareth Casella, 32, also from Surrey.

All three were released on bail in Westminster JPs court on April 14.