Stephanie Heaps concealed her relationship with Leon ‘Layton’ Ramsden while working a prison officer as he served a life sentence for a murder in Bolton
A shamed ex-cop who helped her secret killer husband launder drug money has been jailed.
Stephanie Heaps is facing a hefty sentence after meeting murderer Leon ‘Layton’ Ramsden while working as a prison staffer as he served his life sentence a HMP Wymott in Leyland, Lancashire. The killer was jailed in 2010 for a minimum of 17 years after murdering Paul Gilligan at a pub in Bolton.
Heaps, 32, now known as Stephanie Ramsden after marrying the killer, tied the knot with him after meeting through her job. She was jailed for four years and three months on Thursday after a police probe uncovered their illicit relationship, with bosses saying she showed a “brazen disregard” for her job.
The investigation into Heaps found she had links to an organised crime group Ramsden had been associated with, which had been involved in money laundering, drug dealing and a burglary plot. A judge at Bolton Crown Court sentenced her to four years and three months on Thursday.
Heaps, who joined Greater Manchester Police in 2019, was subsequently barred from policing after the investigation led to a misconduct hearing last year. Keeping her relationship with Leon Ramsden under wraps, their relationship came to light after detectives received a tip-off in September 2019.
The pair remain married, with a bizarre AI-generated picture posted online showing them tying the knot, Manchester Evening News reports. The court heard how Heaps regularly visited Ramsden in jail while he used illegal phones to contact her, through which she shared sensitive police intelligence with him.
When issued a warrant to arrest an associate of Leon Ramsden’s who was wanted for domestic abuse she also failed to do so, GMP said. Heaps was arrested in January 2020, but offered no comment when interviewed, resigning weeks later.
In October 2022, Heaps pleaded guilty to several misconduct offences, as well as conspiracy to commit a burglary and to transfer, conceal and convert criminal property regarding the money laundering of Ramsden’s drugs money.
Ramsden, of HMP Berwyn, was sentenced to five years and seven months, 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 brazen disregard for the standards required for both her roles in the police and the prison service.
“As soon as we were made aware of Heaps’ potential relationship with Ramsden, we conducted a number of detailed enquiries to ensure that the maximum amount of evidence about her offending could be collated so she could be held accountable for the full extent of her crimes. It’s clear Heaps should never be trusted to serve the public, and it is a testament to the investigation team that she was only in uniform for a matter of months before she was taken away from frontline duties for good and now put rightly behind bars along with Ramsden and his associates.”
Alan Richardson, senior crown prosecutor for CPS North West said: “Stephanie Heaps was in a position of trust both as a prison officer and later a police officer. She knew that her actions created a serious conflict of interest and entirely compromised the trusted positions 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 accept her guilt. Heaps will now face the consequences of her actions.”
Four others from Bolton have also been 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, suspended for 18 months; 25 rehabilitation days; and a six-month home detention curfew between 7pm and 6am, for conspiracy to transfer, conceal and convert criminal property.
Clifford McCarthy, 35, of Larkfield Grove, was sentenced to 15 months suspended for two years; 200 hours of community service; and 10 rehabilitation days for conspiracy to transfer, conceal and convert criminal property. Joanne Campbell, 48, of Gisburn Avenue, was sentenced to 13 months suspended for 18 months; 25 rehabilitation days; and referred to support services for conspiracy to transfer, conceal and convert criminal property.
