The partner of brutal drugs murderer Billy Dole - and her mother - have joined him in prison for plotting his escape from justice.

Dole, 29, fled to Turkey as police closed in on the killer of Peter Beale, whose body was discovered near Rochester Bridge.

Now the two women who "carefully crafted" his escape to Turkey, partner Rachel Woods and her mother Linda Harris have received jail sentences for their part.

Harris was sentenced for three years and five months and Woods for three years and 10 months.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens said although they acted out of misguided loyalty and a wish to protect their family, they had time to reflect on their 'combined actions'.

He added: "Each of you must have been shocked and confused and were being ripped one way or the other because of your loyalties and love for others.

"But as time passed, there must have been clarity in your minds that Billy Dole was planning to leave the jurisdiction.

"We got them. They are evil." - Peter Beale's family

"In some circumstances of this offence, individuals assist by acting in a way that places offenders out of sight.

"However, the seriousness of this offending is that you didn't take him out of sight but out of reach of the authorities by making sure he left this country, " he added.

Judge St John Stevens added he accepted the women had now shown contrition but he said Woods had also 'carefully crafted' the escape plan with her partner, and then lied to the jury at trial.

After the sentences were passed, Harris waved and told family and friends sitting in the public gallery she loved them.

But a member of the family of victim Peter Beale clenched her fist and said: "We got them. They are evil."

Harris had mocked one of Mr Beale's relatives, who had been crying during the hearing shouting: "Good acting".

The court had heard how Harris, 57, drove Dole to Stansted Airport in Essex to catch his departing plane less than two days after the murder on September 17, 2018.

Woods was said to have used her own phone number and email address to book the Pegasus Airlines flights to Istanbul, Antalya and finally Lefkosa, in Cyrpus.

The court heard she also planned to join Dole abroad and the couple tried to cover their tracks by switching phones and devising a code when texting each other in which they referred to the killing and his subsequent escape using the words 'wedding' and 'venue'.

But the court was told Dole was arrested a week later when he returned voluntarily to Gatwick Airport.

He subsequently admitted murdering 39-year-old Mr Beale and is due to be sentenced later this month.

Harris, of School Road, in Marshland St James, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.

Woods, 32, of Chorister Crescent, Hoo, denied the same offence but was convicted after a trial in November.

Prosecutor Tom Godfrey told the court that drug dealer Dole knifed Mr Beale, from Sittingbourne, Kent, to death on September 17, 2018 in revenge for Beale robbing one of his runners, Levi Webb, of a gold watch, cash and crack cocaine.

By the time his body was found the next morning - Woods's birthday - arrangements to help Dole flee were being made by the two women.

Later that day there was 'a family gathering' to help Dole, said Mr Godfrey.

"They knew he had done something wrong, it was very serious and a man had died.

"That night Linda Harris did a Google search 'Man killed in Medway'. She later text her son saying 'It might be OK. They were crackheads. He is laying low to see what happens first.'

"She then spent the night at Rachel Woods's home, during which they must have been discussing the stabbing of Peter Beale and what was going to happen to Billy Dole.

"Despite it being Rachel Woods's birthday, he couldn't go home and she knew full well why."

"Their actions showed a complete disregard for the victim, and the pain his family would have been experiencing..." - Det Chf Tristan Kluibenschadl

One coded message sent by Woods read: "I love you so much. Whatever you decide with the wedding, we will go for it."

Harris and Woods then met up with Dole on September 19 and booked his flights.

"Both defendants ensured Billy Dole was able to avoid apprehension from the police while they devised a plan for him to escape, and then facilitated his escape to northern Cyprus and his evasion of justice."

Dole is expected to be sentenced for murder later this month, alongside Webb, 23, from Strood, near Rochester, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Detective Chief Inspector Tristan Kluibenschadl said: "These two offenders knowingly, and willingly, attempted to help Billy Dole escape justice despite knowing he was wanted for a serious offence.

"Their actions showed a complete disregard for the victim, and the pain his family would have been experiencing, and I am pleased we were able to quickly disprove their attempts to hinder our investigation and that they have now faced justice."

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