A PRISON officer has been charged with an alleged conspiracy to supply heroin at the Suffolk jail where he was working.

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Alex Sheppard was employed at HMP Highpoint, at Stradishall, near Newmarket at the time of his arrest.

The 21-year-old is due to appear before Ipswich Crown Court on March 23 for a plea and case management hearing.

Sheppard, of John Davis Way, Watlington, near King’s Lynn, is accused of conspiring to supply a Class A controlled drug.

His co-accused Fiona Wraight, a 21-year-old financial advisor, of Rockingham Road, Bury St Edmunds, is also due in court on March 23 to face the same charge.

Sheppard was arrested shortly before 10pm on May 27 last year.

It is understood he was taken into custody after being detained at Highpoint prison.

He was interviewed by police and then bailed pending further enquiries, before being charged late last year.

It is alleged that, together with others, he supplied a quantity of diamorphine.

Sheppard made his first appearance on the charge before West Suffolk Magistrates Court in Bury St Edmunds on December 6.

The case was then committed to Ipswich Crown Court.

Sheppard and Wraight are currently on bail until their next court hearing.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: “A member of staff from HMP Highpoint was charged with drug offences relating to May 2011.

“We cannot comment while court proceedings are ongoing.”

A third person Adam James Bloy has also been charged in connection with the alleged conspiracy to supply a Class A drug.

The 25-year-old, formerly of Woodwark Avenue, King’s Lynn, was due to appear before Ipswich magistrates earlier this month.However, his case was adjourned until tomorrow when he is scheduled to appear before the same court.

Bloy, whose address on court records is given as HMP Swaleside in the Isle of Sheppey, has been charged with conspiring to supply diamorphine, as well as cannabis. Both charges relate to May 27.

Diamorphine is known as an opioid painkiller, used to relieve severe pain.