A PRISONER has had his jail term extended after he was found to have illegal phones and sim cards while in custody.

Christopher Welsh, an inmate at HMP Berwyn, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court for sentence via video link on Thursday.

The 43-year-old had previously been convicted of four counts of possessing specified items in prison - namely a Zanco mobile phone and a sim card at the Wrexham prison in April last year and an iPhone and sim card HMP Wymott in Lancashire in August of the previous year.

Dafydd Roberts, prosecuting, told the court Welsh is serving an ongoing sentence of over 28 years for conspiracy to supply controlled drugs and was moved to North Wales after his device was found in Wymott.

The Leader: HMP BerwynHMP Berwyn

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Martine Snowdon, defending, told the court the case was "unusual" in that the devices discovered at both jails were not used for criminal purposes.

The only contacts in the phone were personal to him, she said, adding: "After the [covid-19] lockdown began he was unable to see any of his family because his visits ceased.

"He was prevented from leaving his cell for more than 45 minutes per day and there were enormous queues for the phone facilities, so he resorted to what he knows he shouldn't have done."

The Leader: HMP BerwynHMP Berwyn

Judge Niclas Parry told the defendant: "These are serious matters, for a reason - phones affect the rehabilitative aim of the prison.

"They make the availability of drugs easier and they can undermine justice.

"They're also extremely valuable - up to £1,500 can be paid to have such a device in prison."

Judge Parry handed down a sentence of six months on each of the four offences - to run concurrent to each other, but consecutive to the defendant's ongoing term.

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