Shropshire Star

Woman who smuggled drugs into Stoke Heath Prison is spared jail

A woman who smuggled drugs into a Shropshire prison using a false identity has been given a suspended sentence.

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Factory worker Anne Marie Westwood, 40, took a package containing cannabis and anabolic steroids to the prison near Market Drayton in February last year.

It was passed to Osbourne Walton, an inmate at HMP Stoke Heath, who she did not know and had only spoken to on the phone.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday Westwood was given a 16 month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

In addition she must attend a rehabilitation programme and complete 80 hours unpaid work and pay £400 costs.

Westwood, of Leyland, Lancashire, was found guilty of three charges of taking prohibited material into a prison following a two-day trial.

Recorder Martin Jackson told Westwood she clearly knew what was going on and had lied at her trial.

He said Westwood was not unfamiliar with the prison regime and knew the procedures and had used a false bus pass as photo identification.

"I accept you were under direction, but doubt that you had been put under any real pressure," he said.

During the trial the jury heard she travelled from Manchester on February 17 last year to visit Walton having created the fake bus pass and a letter claiming she was Colette White.

Mr Andrew Wilkins, prosecuting, described it as "an open and shut case" and it was quite obvious Walton could only had the items from the defendant.

Prison staff were alerted to keep an eye on Westwood when she arrived late for visiting with alcohol on her breath and seemed anxious.

The cylinder containing the drugs was exchanged when she gave Walton a hug at the end of the visit.

Walton was confronted by staff and had attempted to throw away the package which contained 64 steroid tablets, two grams of herbal cannabis and 18 grams of cannabis resin.

Mr Brendon Reedy, for Westwood, said she had subsequently been honest about the incident and at the time had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, an abusive relationship problems and she was homeless.

"The offence was not committed for gain and there was an element of duress and she was put under pressure," he said.

Mr Reedy said she was vulnerable and concerned for the welfare of a relative who was in prison at the time.

He said his client had since found accommodation and worked in a factory and had a second job at weekends.

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