By Joe Hutchison
A PRISON nurse has been struck off for trying to smuggle drugs into the same jail where she worked.
Hannah Dagg attempted to take £1500 worth of cocaine and cannabis past security officials and sniffer dogs at HMP Grampian in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, on April 19th last year.
Dagg admitted to accepting a bribe to take the drugs for a specific prisoner, which ultimately led to her losing her job.
But the 29-year-old tried to blame the NHS for her criminal behaviour, a hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Council was told.
Dagg, who did not appear at the NMC hearing in Edinburgh, was a mental health nurse.
But NMC Counsel, Yusuf Segovia, described how Dagg’s actions could have endangered prisoners
He said: “It’s the type of activity that could have brought danger to the prisoners.
“It had the potential to bring the occupation into disrepute.
“A striking off order is more than appropriate.”
Panel Chairwoman Kathryn Eastwood, ultimately agreed with Mr Segovia saying “Ms Dagg’s fitness to practice is impaired”.
She added that Eastwood’s actions were “planned, premeditated and deliberate.”
Dagg, in a letter sent to the NMC, claimed she was treated “badly” by her previous employers
She said: “I have no intention to practice as a nurse.
“I do feel that I was treated badly by my employer, the NHS, in the run up to me committing the offence.”
According to a newspaper report at the time of her conviction at Peterhead Sheriff Court last summer, Dagg was found with cannabis wraps in her shoes along with three grams of cocaine which was found in her body.
The cannabis was valued at £100-£310 with the cocaine estimated at around £200, but was said to be worth “five times” more in jail.
She had cannabis wraps in her shoes and a capsule containing a 3g wrap of cocaine was found in her body. Dagg told police the name of a prisoner she was delivering the drugs to.
On the street, the cannabis resin was valued at £100-£310 and the cocaine at £170-£200 but had a value in jail “five times” more.
During her trial, defence lawyer Nina Derrin stated Ms Dagg had been struggling with very serious mental health problems, such as depression and borderline personality disorder.
However, she was found guilty and charged with two offences relating to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and was jailed for nine and a half months.
Speaking after the court decision was reached, a spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said: “We note the decision but will not be commenting further.”
