Third inmate has illegal phone sim

A THIRD Perth prisoner has admitted using an illegal sim card in his cell.

Liam Hargreaves, who was recently jailed for his role in a “cowardly” Dundee stabbing, was caught with the device in May 2021, Perth Sheriff Court heard.

Fiscal depute Brian Kermode said prison officers were called to his cell following reports two inmates were under the influence.

They found Hargreaves’ prisonissued mobile phone.

“The seal at the back was broken,” said Mr Kermode.

“The sim card was found inside.” Hargreaves, 22, appeared via video link and pleaded guilty to having a communications device while behind bars.

Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, said this was his client’s first significant prison sentence.

Hargreaves, along with accomplices Ian Eghan and Dee Burke, were jailed last month for an attack on 20-yearold Jahmyles Hyndes in Dundee’s Cleghorn Street.

He was sentenced to four years and two months.

Sheriff William Wood told him: “The possession of a sim card in prison is an offence the courts take very seriously.

“I am satisfied that a custodial sentence is appropriate.”

Hargreaves was jailed for two months, however the sentence will run alongside his current jail term, meaning his release date is unaffected.

Yesterday, we told that Fife firearms thief Sean Barclay was also caught with an illicit sim in his stateissued mobile.

He had his sentence extended by eight months.

Last week, Dundee dealer Kurt De’Cruz was also locked up for another eight months for having a sim card in his cell.

It is the third time the inmate has been caught with a communications device.

Prisoners across Scotland were issued with mobile phones during the first Covid-19 lockdown.

The aim was to help them stay in touch with family and close friends, while prison visits were banned.

But many inmates complained that the state-issued phones were too restrictive, allowing for only a limited number of contacts and calls.