Judge hits out at drugs in prison
AJUDGE hit out at “the alarming availability” of hard drugs within HMP Berwyn as he sentenced an inmate for hiding heroin and crack cocaine in a jail cell.
Judge Niclas Parry said the drug market in the Wrexham super-jail led to bullying and violence, and the courts would do all they could to help stamp it out.
The judge made the remarks as he jailed Wayne Trevor Thomas, 36, for three years and nine months after he admitted possessing drugs intent to supply HMP Berwyn.
The drugs, which had a value of £10,000 inside prison, were found inside another prisoner, Brett Cowell’s cell, in November 2018, the court heard. Thomas had come under pressure from “a firm of Scousers” who he had been working for before he was jailed. with
Judge Parry told Thomas, of Poulton-with-Fearnhead near Warrington, that he clearly considered it “quite acceptable” to supply the most harmful drugs for financial gain.
He had received 42 months for drugs offences, but then did exactly the same “but this time in a prison”.
“Anybody who plays a role in the supply of drugs within prison is contributing to prison disorder, violence, bullying and a threat to prisoner safety,” said the judge. “Drugs of this nature are considered such a valuable currency. The value here is more than £10,000.”
Prosecuting barrister Karl Scholz said Thomas was being pressured by a Liverpool-based gang
They had been demanding money from Thomas after their drugs were lost when he was arrested and jailed for drug dealing, he said.
The court heard Thomas was holding drugs and collected parcels thrown over prison walls when he was held at Walton and then at Hindley prisons, and this carried on when he was transferred to HMP Berwyn.
Thomas, who had previous convictions for 22 offences, had made full admissions, explained Sarah Griffin, defending.
Thomas knew full well that he was going back to prison, she said.
“He fears threats and pressure will be put on him again,” she said, “and that sentences would simply get longer and longer”.