Prison officer who became a cop and married a prison killer now finds herself behind bars

Disgraced ex-cop hid affair with murderous husband – then helped him launder drugs money Stephanie Heaps, now known as Stephanie Ramsden, has been jailed.

She met Leon “Layton” Ramsden, 35, while he was serving a life sentence for murder at HMP Wymott in Leyland. At the time she was working as a prison officer. Ramsden was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 17 years in 2010 after killing Paul Gilligan, 31, in a Bolton pub.

A Greater Manchester Police investigation found Heaps, 32, was involved in an organised crime group linked to Ramsden that involved money laundering, drug dealing and a burglary conspiracy. She was sentenced to four years and three months at Bolton Crown Court on Thursday (July 4), with police chiefs saying she had a “brazen disrespect” for the profession.

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The couple is now married. A bizarre AI-generated image of the couple in a marriage relationship was posted on social media.

Heaps was barred from the force at a misconduct hearing in October 2023. She joined Greater Manchester Police (GMP) as a PC in July 2019. She did not disclose her links to Ramsden. Officers discovered the pair’s relationship after tipsters in September 2019.

Heaps frequently visited Ramsden in prison, contacted him using illegal phones he had in his cell and shared confidential police information with him. She failed to arrest a wanted domestic violence suspect while responding to the incident because the suspect was an associate of Ramsden, GMP said.

She was arrested in January 2020 but made no comment during questioning. She resigned from the force a few weeks later. In October 2022, Heaps pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office as a police officer at GMP; misconduct by a public servant as a prison officer at HMP Wymott; intentionally encouraging or aiding the commission of a crime following telephone calls to Ramsden using unauthorised mobile phones; conspiracy to commit burglary following a burglary in St Helens; and conspiracy to convey, conceal and convert criminal property in relation to drug money laundering from Ramsden.

Ramsden, of HMP Berwyn, was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison, to run concurrently with his murder sentence. Detective Chief Inspector Jennifer Adams, of GMP’s Anti-Corruption Unit, said: “During our investigation we were shocked by the actions of Stephanie Heaps and her blatant disregard for the standards required for both her roles in policing and the prison service.

“As soon as we became aware of Heaps’ potential link with Ramsden, we carried out a number of detailed enquiries to ensure the maximum amount of evidence could be gathered relating to her offending so that she could be held to account for the full scope of her offences.

“It is clear that Heaps should never have been entrusted with serving the public and the investigation team has established that she only wore the uniform for a few months before she was permanently removed from frontline duties and is now rightly behind bars alongside Ramsden and his associates.”

Alan Richardson, senior crown prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “Stephanie Heaps held a position of trust both as a prison officer and later as a police officer. She knew that her actions created a serious conflict of interest and completely breached the positions of trust 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 to plead guilty. Heaps will now have to face the consequences of her actions.”

Four others from Bolton were also sentenced in connection with the case. 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, of Bleak Street, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months; 25 rehabilitation activity days; and six months’ home detention between 7pm and 6am for conspiracy to transfer, conceal and convert property derived from crime.

Clifford McCarthy, 35, of Larkfield Grove, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years, 200 hours of community service and 10 days of rehabilitation for conspiracy to transfer, conceal and convert property derived from crime.

Joanne Campbell, 48, of Gisburn Avenue, was sentenced to 13 months in prison, suspended for 18 months; 25 rehabilitation activity days; and ordered to undergo support services in relation to conspiracy to transfer, conceal and convert criminal property.