Woman tried to smuggle drugs during jail visit
A WOMAN who attempted to smuggle Spice and tobacco into prison for her inmate partner has been jailed.
Joanne Robertson was caught attempting to smuggle synthetic cannabis, commonly known as Spice, along with tobacco and other items into HMP Parc on October 3, 2018.
The 46-year-old mother-of-two was stripsearched by guards who found two packages containing the contraband, which fetches a higher price in prison.
Robertson, who served a 12-month prison sentence in 2016 for a similar offence of trying to smuggle heroin into a prison, told police she had been put under “great pressure” by her partner.
Tony Trigg, prosecuting, told the court Robertson arrived at HMP Parc to visit her partner at about 2pm on October 3, 2018.
“Something aroused the suspicion of the staff,” Mr Trigg said. “Whatever it was, they asked Ms Robertson to step to one side to be spoken to and she was asked if she had anything.”
Mr Trigg said Robertson was asked to remove articles of clothing for a search. They discovered two “cylindrical objects” wrapped in clingfilm under her top.
“The first contained Spice, the synthetic cannabis drug, which has in recent years become all too common,” Mr Trigg said.
“Its users are likely to experience adverse effects varying from those experienced by normal cannabis users. The effects include psychotic symptoms and paranoia.”
Mr Trigg said a total of 18.5g of Spice was discovered on Robertson’s person, which has a street value of about £165 but could be worth more inside the prison.
Another cylindrical wrap contained 26.6g of tobacco, rolling papers and a computer flash drive.
Mr Trigg said Robertson told police officers who questioned her that she had been under “great pressure” to commit the crime by her partner.
He added that Robertson was convicted of a similar offence of attempting to smuggle a quantity of heroin into a prison in February 2016.
Adam Sharpe, defending, asked the court to give full credit to his client for her early guilty plea.
Mr Sharpe said Robertson is currently in employment, had no history of alcohol of drug misuse and raised two children who are now aged 19 and 17.
Robertson, of Illtyd Road, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to a single charge of conveying a list A article into prison.
Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: “A suspended sentence is simply not appropriate. Your offending is too serious and it is a repeated offence.”
Robertson received a 12-month prison sentence and was told she would serve at least half of that before being released on licence.