‘RESPECTABLE’WOMAN BANGED UP AFTER HAUL SEIZED Jail visitor’s poncho hid drug stash handover
MoD award for armed forces help
Court reporter A WOMAN who used a large poncho to hide the fact she was passing a cocktail of drugs to an inmate during a jail visit embrace has been locked up.
“Respectable” Ruth Peart was at HMP Northumberland to see a serving prisoner when she tried to use the garment to disguise the fact she was handing over a package containing heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine and prescription drugs.
But guards spotted what was going on and swooped to seize the £2,000 haul.
Now 46-year-old Peart, described as a “thoroughly respectable lady”, has been jailed for 13 months at Newcastle Crown Court.
Judge Amanda Rippon told Peart: “The provision of class A drugs to prisoners has a huge impact on the general disorder and behaviour of prisoners inside the prison.
“It causes problems for prison officers, prisoners that don’t take drugs and prisoners that do take drugs. It is with a JUDGE AMANDA RIPPON NEWCASTLE City Council has received formal recognition of its long-term commitment to the armed forces with a gold award by the Ministry of Defence.
The recognition is for the work of Councillor Karen Kilgour, the Armed Forces Champion, plus that of the Fairer Housing Unit, the Newcastle Armed Forces Forum and the City Council.
The work has included revising housing policies to increase the priority awarded to members of the armed forces heavy heart, in your circumstances, that I have concluded you can only be sentenced to an immediate custodial sentence.
“There has to be a deterrent to prevent people, even people like yourself with a good background and good character because these are the kinds of people that are used.”
Peart, of Chesters Avenue, Longbenton, North Tyneside, admitted five offences of taking banned items into prison, last November. Prosecutor Rachel Masters told the court: “The defendant was observed to stand up and begin to embrace with the prisoner. “At the time she was wearing a large poncho.
“This poncho was used to obscure what was going on.”
The court heard the inmate was seen “fumbling” in his pocket after the embrace. He tried to dispose of the package when staff approached.
Kate Barnes, mitigating, said Peart is a “thoroughly respectable lady” who had been asked to take what she thought were painkillers to an inmate who had been injured in a beating behind bars. Miss Barnes said Peart was “put under significant pressure and threats were offered” before she eventually agreed. community to help people get rehoused sooner. Coun Kilgour, cabinet member for Health and Social Care and Armed Forces Champion, said: “Newcastle is a safe city for veterans and we work hard to ensure we support the armed forces community both practically and emotionally.
“This award is recognition of Newcastle’s dedication to those who serve our country, and highlights the passion of the council to ensure they remain valued members of our local community.”