An ex-prison officer yesterday claimed he was victimised by senior officers who strip-searched him and then used Police contacts to have his home searched.

Rodney Woolridge resigned from the Prison Service yesterday after Police officers arrested him after discovering a "spliff'' and some cigarette papers in his house.

"I was set up and used as a scapegoat,'' Mr. Woolridge charged.

He said this was because he had been outspoken about problems in the prison in the past.

"If I saw something wrong -- I told them. When you speak up you get labelled.

If you go along with the flow then you're okay.

"None of the other officers would speak out beause they were scared of reprisals.'' Mr. Woolridge had been a prison officer for ten years before he showed up to work at the Prison Farm on Wednesday.

He was met at the gate by fellow prison officer Ronnie Harrel and divisional officer Steve Dyer who told him they wanted to search him.

Mr. Woolridge said he asked why and was told it had been ordered by Chief officer Calvin Hollis.

He was taken to an office where Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Marvin Trott was waiting and was told information had been received that he was bringing a package into the jail that day.

Mr. Woolridge asked who had accused him but no-one would tell him. "It was a planned set up all the way,'' he said.

Mr. Woolridge said he was strip-searched and his possessions were examined but nothing was found. He was told to go home and come back to work the next day.

But as he left the Prison Farm, several Police officers arrived and he was arrested under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

He was taken to St. George's Police Station where he was searched again and then the officers went to his home and searched it.

They found a marijuana joint and some cigarette papers.

"I admit it,'' said Mr. Woolridge. "I smoke now and again -- I've got nothing to hide. It's not other people's business what I do in my own house.

Prison officer arrested "I don't deal with bringing it (drugs) into prison though.'' Mr. Woolridge questioned why he had been pursued further after being searched at prison when in the past officers would be searched in prison only.

He claimed it had something to do with Mr. Trott and Mr. Hollis' dislike of him. "Those two idiots succeeded in doing what they set out to do -- get me out of the service.'' He resigned and told Commissioner Edward Dyer, who he said asked him to reconsider.

Mr. Dyer also said he had not been told about the search until late in the day when he was contacted by Police officers, said Mr. Woolridge.

He added that Mr. Dyer asked him not to resign as he had not been proven guilty but Mr. Woolridge said he had already admitted the spliff was his to Police.

"Why should I wait till they fire me?'' he asked.

CRIME CRM DRUGS DGS