Prison drugs courier jailed

A drug addict from Shifnal who smuggled £5,000 worth of heroin hidden in his trousers while on a prison visit was today jailed for more than four years.

Dale Rollason, 24, was caught with the illegal drug by a drug-testing machine during a visit to Stafford Prison.

Mr Nick Burn, prosecuting, at Stafford Crown Court today, said 13g of 68 per cent pure heroin was found inside Rollason’s trousers.

The court heard Rollason, of Jellicoe Crescent, Shifnal, was carrying the drug in return for cash or for drugs to feed his own heroin addiction.

He had purposely made a hole in one of his trouser pockets to carry the haul in and pass them to the person he was visiting.

Recorder Duncan Smith today jailed Rollason for four years and nine months, describing his life as “terrible”.

Rollason had admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply.

Sentencing Rollason, Recorder Smith told him he was being used as a courier to get drugs into the prison and was being used as a “mule”.

The court heard he had previous convictions for theft.

Recorder Smith said: “It is a most distressing thing to read your record and you have a terrible life as well as having a heroin addiction.

“You committed a very serious crime, but you made full admissions when interviewed and pleaded guilty.

“You were a courier, I am sure about that, and you were used as a mule to go into prison.”

Mr Burn said Rollason had a hole in one of his trouser pockets in order to pass the drug to the prisoner that he was visiting at the jail.

“He said he was taking the drugs in and expected to be paid for his troubles,” said Mr Burn.

“He was on bail at the time waiting to be dealt with by Telford magistrates for various offences, but mainly theft, including stealing lead worth £4,000.

“He was jailed for 10 months earlier this month.”

Mr Edward Soulsby, for Rollason, said: “He is a significant heroin user and is the father of a two-and-a-half-year-old son.

“He is a heroin addict and was promised some drugs. He has never been involved in prison offending before and was caught red-handed.”

By Crime Correspondent Kirsty Marston