Shropshire Star

Stoke Heath Prison inmate cannabis exchange caught on security camera, court told

A woman handed cannabis to an inmate at Stoke Heath Prison – and was caught in the act on security cameras, a court heard.

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Anne Marie Westwood passed the illegal substance and an anabolic steroid to prisoner Osbourne Walton during a visit. She passed the drugs while giving him a hug, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told. Westwood, of Leyland, Lancashire, has denied three offences of conveying articles into prison.

Mr Andrew Wilkins, prosecuting, told the jury that the prison staff were keeping a close eye on the 40-year-old because she arrived late for the visit to the prison near Market Drayton.

"The case is about bringing drugs into prison and that this defendant was a visitor there on February 17 last year," Mr Wilkins said. "There were a number of things that were slightly unusual about that visit. The prisoner whom she was visiting did not get visitors and records later showed this was the first one in three months.

"The prisoner didn't realise at the time, but Westwood was visiting under a false name. She gave her name as Collette White and provided a utility bill and a travel card.

"She turned up late, but it was unusual in the respect that the prisoner did not seem to give up. Staff noticed that the defendant smelled a bit of alcohol, but they decided to let her in anyway because she was late. The dog that checked visitors for drugs had already left.

"Other checks were done and she signed the declaration form and went into the visitors' lounge, but by this time the staff had concerns about her lateness and the alcohol.

"They thought that they should keep a close eye on her and part of that was by watching her on closed circuit television. Footage from that will show Westwood was quite agitated and was putting her hand in her top.

"We will say that as she puts her hand towards Walton and they both stand up and there is a hug, but it is a quite unusual sort of hug. First of all you don't see Walton's left hand coming round. You see his right hand come forward in between the couple, but he looks as if he gets his other hand and puts it down his trousers," Mr Wilkins said.

He said guards were deployed to check the inmate and the items were taken from him.

The trial continues.

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