Sunday 27 November 2022 10:08 PM Stephen Lawrence killer David Norris is caught with mobile phone in his cell ... trends now
Prison chiefs are facing serious questions after one of Stephen Lawrence's jailed killers was found in possession of a mobile phone for the second time in two months.
In yet another appalling security lapse, likely to anger the teenager's family, a small phone has been discovered in the cell of racist thug David Norris.
It was found weeks after a 'furious' Brandon Lewis, who was justice secretary at the time, vowed that the ex-gangster's son would face 'consequences' after he was caught illegally using a smartphone in prison in September.
Officials found that device in an intimate part of his body while investigating the Daily Mail's bombshell revelations that Norris had sent WhatsApp messages and selfies from his cell to friends outside jail.
Amid fears that a corrupt member of prison staff had supplied the smartphone to him, a police investigation was launched.
A new photo obtained by the Mail shows killer David Norris waering Armani and a facemask with 'Millwall' written on it
Now a second police probe is under way after a small phone was found in his cell at HMP Dartmoor following a raid by the Prison Service's roving 'designated search team'.
Sources said the small analogue phone recovered on Friday was likely to have been shared with other inmates.
Norris has been 'locked up' in his cell on the cushy E-wing at Dartmoor, where inmates enjoy privileges, in the wake of the latest discovery, insiders said.
It is understood he was moved there earlier this month after he was attacked by two inmates on the tougher C-wing at the prison.
Last night the Prison Service confirmed the second mobile phone scandal to engulf Norris, jailed for life for murdering Stephen, 18, in Eltham, south London, in 1993.
In a statement, it warned: 'We do not tolerate illicit phones in jail and prisoners found with them should expect to face longer behind bars. Police are investigating and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.'
The pioneering former president of the Police Superintendents' Association, Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, said last night of the Norris phone controversy: 'This is a disgrace. Utterly scandalous. A lot of crimes are planned in prison through illicit mobile phones.
It is the second time in two months that Norris has been found with a phone in his prison cell
'This is a major breach of security and I hope the Justice Secretary will order an inquiry into how Norris obtained yet another phone. The governor of Dartmoor Prison must take responsibility for what has happened. Norris is sticking two fingers up at the justice system.'
Lord Mackenzie, who supported this newspaper's 'Justice for Stephen' campaign in the late 1990s, added: 'I congratulate the Daily Mail for exposing Norris and the failures at Dartmoor. It is reassuring that 25 years after its famous MURDERERS front page, the Mail is still fighting for justice for Stephen and his family.'
Investigators will want to find out who supplied the phone and how it was funded.
As with the illicit smartphone discovered in his body in September, there are fears that a corrupt member of prison staff may have been paid to provide it.
Sources say the latest discovery will further harm Norris's hopes of being moved to a cushy category D open prison in the coming years.
He could be switched to a tougher, higher-security prison in the coming weeks in the aftermath of the latest security breach.
Two weeks ago it emerged that Norris had been scarred for life after being slashed in the face by two inmates. He needed 50 stitches and, according to sources, has a 'horrific line' down his face as a result of the assault.
Prison chiefs are facing serious questions after one of Stephen Lawrence's jailed killers was found in possession of a mobile phone for the second time in two months
It is believed he was attacked over allegations he spread rumours about other inmates.
In September, the Daily Mail revealed how the killer – one of two men convicted of murdering Stephen – was using a smartphone to call and text friends plus log onto Facebook and watch YouTube videos.
In a foul-mouthed WhatsApp rant, he launched a vile attack on former justice secretary Dominic Raab, who had blocked his bid to move to an open prison in May.
Norris brazenly posted a picture of himself behind bars wearing Top Gun-style aviator sunglasses and with his TV and Xbox games console in the background.
The Mail has since obtained another picture of Armani-wearing Norris, wearing a prison issue facemask with the name of his favourite football team, Millwall, daubed on it. It too was sent to friends outside.
In September, a whistle-blower also alleged Norris bragged that he was the gang member who stabbed Stephen to death.
Mr Raab has now returned to his old post of Justice Secretary and is likely to be furious with the latest security breach, sources said.
Five men were initially arrested over the racist murder of A-level student Stephen. After a widely acclaimed campaign for justice by this newspaper, Norris and Gary Dobson, 47, were jailed for life for murder in 2012.
Prison X-ray finds illegal mobile phone INSIDE Stephen Lawrence killer's body: David Norris faces being denied parole – as experts probe 'large' device to see who the murderer was communicating withBy Stephen Wright Associate Editor for The Daily Mail
The smartphone used illegally by one of Stephen Lawrence's killers in his prison cell has been found inside his body after he was X-rayed at Dartmoor prison.
Officials discovered the device after investigating the Daily Mail's bombshell revelations that David Norris, 46, had used it to send messages and selfies to friends outside.
Specialist scanning equipment located the black smartphone in an intimate place after this newspaper tipped off the Ministry of Justice that Norris had been flouting strict prison rules.
Staff raided Norris's cell on Tuesday evening while he was elsewhere. After failing to find the phone, they X-rayed him and the scanner revealed a 'large rectangle object' – later confirmed to be a smartphone.
Hours later, the phone was seized and is set to be examined by the Prison Service's digital investigations unit to establish who the foul-mouthed racist had secretly been in contact with from his cell on E Wing at Dartmoor, a category C prison.
David Norris, 46, posted an extraordinary picture of himself wearing Top Gun-style Aviator sunglasses with his TV and Xbox games console in the background in his cell at Dartmoor Prison in Devon
Investigators want to establish whether Norris was in communication with active criminals outside prison, including those suspected of being involved in
