‘Moonpig’ had needle in cell to make cards

Electrician, 25, also sentenced for possessing ‘home-made’ tattoo gun

A prisoner caught with a needle claimed he was using it to run an illicit greeting card business from his cell.

James Kidd said he was using the needle and paint to create one-off cards for inmates at Perth Prison.

Kidd – dubbed Moonpig by a prison source – told Perth Sheriff Court yesterday he had set up the card-making operation.

The 25-year-old, from Memorial Court, Leven, admitted having a prohibited item in Perth Prison on February 8 last year.

Depute fiscal Matthew Kerr said: “Information was received that caused the prison officer to attend the accused’s cell and carry out a search.

“During this search a needle was found, similar in type to those used in the prison workshop. It was concealed in a trinket box on the counter beside the television.”

Solicitor Sandy Raeburn, defending, said: “He was using the needle to make money by making cards.

“That was the reason for him having the needle.

“He wasn’t hiding it, as it was out on his tray. He complied with the prison staff.

“There were two small particles of paint around the sink area of the cell.

“It is serious, but I submit it is towards the lower end of the scale, given the articles which are sometimes found in prison, such as knives and so on.”

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told Kidd: “You have numerous convictions for crimes of violence and convictions that show your respect for the justice system is not what it should be.”

He jailed Kidd for eight months yesterday.

Last month, Kidd appeared in the same court and was praised by a sheriff for his ingenuity in creating a tattoo gun from a spoon, guitar string, pen and Playstation controller.

Sheriff Keith O’Mahoney told him: “It seems to me you may very well have some skills if you made this tattoo gun. I hope at some point you can use those skills to do something more productive.”

Kidd replied: “I’m an electrician to trade.” He admitted having a banned item – namely the tattoo gun – in Perth Prison on December 18 2017.

Mr Raeburn told the court: “He fashioned it to use on himself, to give himself tattoos, and he knows that was wrong.

“He has been serving a sentence from July 2017 and he accepts full responsibility for having this prohibited item. He was punished for it within the prison.”

Kidd, who has previous convictions for violence and sexual offences, was jailed for 20 days for that offence.

James Kidd, dubbed ‘Moonpig’, is led away from Perth Sheriff Court after admitting using a needle in his cell to make one-off greeting cards.