Man who tried to take drugs into HMP Berwyn spared jail

James Cannon, of Conifer Close in Liverpool, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday.

The 45-year-old had made admissions during a previous hearing to conveying a prohibited item into HMP Berwyn in March 2020.

READ MORE: Ruabon man spared jail after admitting drugs offences

Prosecuting barrister Michael Whitty told the court that on the day of the offence, Cannon was a visitor to the Wrexham prison.

Officers became suspicious when he refused a 'rub down search' while asking to use the toilet.

Once in a holding room he became "aggressive" and in the process of trying to show he had no contraband, dropped an item behind his foot.

Cannabis (Image: Archive)

The "sausage-shaped wrap" was recovered and found to contain 26g of cannabis, worth around £200 on the street but up to £660 in the jail environment.

Isabella Denn-White, defending, said: "It is his case that he was pressured to do this by someone else."

She said her client had made efforts to reduce his own drug use.

READ MORE: Ex-HMP Berwyn inmate back behind bars for having phone in jail

Judge Niclas Parry said: "You have a previous conviction for supplying cocaine, and here you are taking drugs into prison."

He said "catastrophic" consequences result from drugs making their way into jails, including bullying and violence.

He did however accept that Cannon was vulnerable and he had been presured.

"People have seen a weak man and they have targeted you," he said, "there's no doubt about that."

Judge Parry handed down an eight month prison sentence, but suspended it for a year.

Cannon must undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activity and a drug rehabilitation requirement for six months.

He was also made subject to a curfew for two months.

"Thank you," the defendant told the Judge. "I won't let you down."

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