Prison Cell Door Keys Being Sold for £100K on black market
Prison Cell Door Keys Being Sold for £100K on black market, In a striking case of misconduct, Andrej Martynov, a 44-year-old locksmith employed at HMP Wandsworth, has been sentenced to four years and five months in prison for creating concrete moulds of prison keys. Martynov, who worked for Carillion, a private facilities management firm with a government contract at the prison, was charged with one count of misconduct in public office. His actions have led to significant security concerns and financial repercussions for the prison.
Martynov, originally from Lithuania, was caught after boasting of his ability to sell the key moulds for £100,000, intending to use the proceeds to start a new life in Trinidad. He had been exchanging flirtatious messages with a colleague, Sabrina Ghany, at the south-west London prison, urging her to join him in the Caribbean. His plan was to sell the moulds to an underworld figure, a claim he made repeatedly to Ghany, who eventually reported him to the authorities.
The keys in question could have been used to release any of the fifteen hundred prisoners at HMP Wandsworth, a Category B prison housing murderers, terrorists, and members of organised crime. The potential risk to the public and the cost of rectifying the damage were significant. The prison had to spend at least £422,000 to change 840 locks and 1172 keys as a result of Martynov’s actions.
During the trial, Martynov denied any sinister or financial motive behind his creation of the key moulds, claiming he wanted to familiarise himself with how high-security prison keys worked. However, this claim was rejected by Judge Rajeev Shetty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court. The judge concluded that Martynov’s actions were motivated by profit, despite there being no evidence that he had a buyer or made any money from the moulds.
The court heard that Martynov began working at HMP Wandsworth in April 2017 and was fully trained in sensitive security procedures. The discovery of his misconduct led to increased security measures at the prison, including at the gate and identity checks.
When police raided Martynov’s home, they found two quick-drying cement moulds containing three key impressions in a sock drawer. Martynov claimed he bought cannabis found at his home from a cyclist in Wandsworth Park, for which he paid a fine and court costs.
Martynov’s defence argued that it was questionable whether workable keys could have been made from these moulds and highlighted the distance between making the moulds and actual harm. They described his actions as a catastrophic error and out of character, noting the additional personal impact on Martynov, as news of the case contributed to his father’s stroke and subsequent death in Lithuania.
In summary, Martynov’s case underscores the serious implications of misconduct within the prison system, not only in terms of security risks but also the financial and personal costs involved. His sentence reflects the gravity of his actions and serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of such breaches of trust.