Tanya Petrie

Verified case summary

What happened

Tanya Petrie, 61, from Worle, worked as a pharmacy technician at HMP Bristol when police observed her collecting an item from a wheelie bin in Somerdale Avenue, Bristol, at about 6.30am on 17 October 2023.

She then travelled to the prison, where staff detained and searched her.

While in custody, Petrie told officers that she had a cling-film-wrapped package on her person.

The package contained four packets of class B drugs, two packets of cocaine and tobacco.

Investigation and court case

Police data analysis identified two telephone numbers being used inside the prison and linked one device to a prisoner who had contacted the person responsible for leaving the package.

Investigators also established that Petrie had visited the same address on 9 October 2023.

She said she collected money from the bin, bought SIM cards from a garage and took them into the prison.

Petrie admitted conveying a list B prohibited article.

On 12 February 2026, a Bristol Crown Court jury convicted her of conspiring to convey a list A prohibited article.

Sentence

Bristol Crown Court sentenced Petrie on 16 February 2026 to six years and three months in prison.

Two other people charged in connection with the conspiracy had previously pleaded guilty to conveying list A prohibited items into the prison and received custodial sentences.

Avon and Somerset Police said the investigation involved HMP Bristol, HM Prison and Probation Service counter-corruption staff and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit.

The official report described the case as a conspiracy operating both inside and outside the prison.