Girlfriend of prisoner spared jail after hiding drugs in pants

THE girlfriend of a prisoner who hid crack cocaine and spice in her underwear to smuggle them into prison has avoided jail.

Samantha Feeney, 22, was discovered with the drugs amongst other banned substances and two mobile phones as she attempted to visit her then partner Steven Baker, 25, in HMP Parc, Bridgend, on June 1 last year.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday heard the combined value of the drugs on the defendant’s person was between £3,700 and almost £5,000.

Feeney claimed she tried to smuggle the items into the prison after Baker repeatedly texted asking her to make the deliveries.

Prosecutor David Pugh said Baker phoned Feeney from prison a few months before the offence and they began writing to each other. She visited him on one occasion after which Baker texted her asking her to bring some items into prison.

A number of deliveries were arranged by Baker to Feeney of the items he wished to be conveyed into prison, including spice, Valium, subutex steroids and two mobile phones and their chargers.

The drugs stash, wrapped in clingfilm, also contained crack cocaine, but Feeney claimed she did not know of its presence, which was accepted by the Crown.

In total the stash contained; 0.79g of crack cocaine worth £200 to £400; 27.7g of spice worth £1,000; 82 subutex tablets worth £2,460 to £4,100; 82 tablets of valium worth £64 to £80; and two types of steroids worth £33 to £44.

Mr Pugh said: “The prison had received some intelligence a visitor was going to pass drugs to Mr Baker. The defendant Samantha Feeney was the only visitor of Mr Baker that day.

“She was taken to a search room and asked if she was taking anything into the prison she shouldn’t be. She said no.

“She was told a full body search would take place and after the search had commenced but she then accepted she had some items concealed in her underwear. She also said she was uncomfortable as she had a package on her person.”

Feeney later pleaded guilty to two counts of conveying a listed article into prison while Baker pleaded to two counts of causing a listed article to be conveyed into prison.

Before he began sentencing, Recorder Greg Bull QC told defence barrister Katherine Lane he would not be sentencing her client Feeney to an immediate prison sentence because he was unable to give Baker, who was sentenced in his absence after refusing to come to court, a consecutive sentence to his current sentence.

Speaking to Feeney, he said: “You and your boyfriend Steven Baker hatched a scheme by way of persuading you to smuggle into Parc Prison a quantity of drugs, mobile phones and other paraphernalia. You were caught doing so.

“Smuggling these type of drugs into prison is regarded as serious and guidelines say I should convey you to prison today. Your boyfriend is serving a full sentence and I can- not add to it by way of sentence today.

“If I had imposed a consecutive sentence upon him, I would have sent you to prison today. If you are caught doing this type of behaviour again you are certainly going to prison.

“You were put upon in a heavy way by Mr Baker but you are 22 years old – you have a brain and you are able to think for yourself.

“It’s not worth making his life easier in prison so you can be sent to prison.”

Feeney, of Manorbier Court, Ramsey Road, Barry, was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and was made subject to a 12-month community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement.

Baker, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.