Man jailed for smuggling drugs into prison

Mar 4 2010 West Lothian Courier

A MAN has been jailed after trying to smuggle cannabis into Addiewell Prison inside a packet of crisps.

Grant Norris and a friend went to visit an inmate at the West Lothian jail on July 15 last year a court has been told.

Norris bought a few things from the vending machine in the visiting area including a packet of crisps.

The 27-year-old opened the snack and had a few of the crisps before putting something into the packet and placing it on the table.

Security officers at the prison noticed what he was doing and seized the packet of crisps and when they examined the contents they found a brown substance in the bag.

Tests later showed it was cannabis weighing 3.3g with a street value of around £10.

When interviewed by police Norris admitted it was his cannabis.

He told the police officers that the prisoner he was visiting did not know anything about his plan to smuggle the drug into the prison.

Last week at Livingston Sheriff Court, Norris, whose address was given as Ardgour Court, Blantyre, pled guilty to having the class B drug in his possession in the prison.

His solicitor, Stuart Peebles, asked the court to give his client a non-custodial sentence.

He told the sheriff court that Norris had previous convictions for drug offences.

“He is a man finally realising that he cannot keep on offending this way,” Mr Peebles said.

Sentencing Norris to three months imprisonment Sheriff Douglas Kinloch said: “Drugs seem to be a big problem in prisons today.

“Addiewell is a new prison and the courts have to do what they can to stop drugs becoming the same problem at this prison they seem ton be in other prisons in the country.

“The people who attempt to smuggle drugs of any kind into prison should expect to receive a custodial sentence from the courts when they appear.

“I have listened to what your solicitor has had to say on your behalf and I’ve read the social enquiry report which has been produced.

“However, I must say I have seen nothing to suggest you should not receive a custodial sentence.

“You have a bad record and you have had two previous convictions for being involved in drugs and I have to take that into account.”