1 week Ago By [email protected] (Mark Naylor)
A woman who craftily tried to smuggle drugs into a prison by stuffing them inside her mouth was foiled when she soon gave herself away – because her mouth was "bulging and moving around repeatedly". Kate Womersley attracted the suspicions of an eagle-eyed prison officer because she looked "very nervous and anxious" – and she was asked to spit out anything that she had in her mouth, Hull Crown Court heard. Womersley, 47, admitted conveying crack cocaine, heroin and Subutex into HMP Humber, in the North Cave and Everthorpe area, on April 24 last year.
Stephen Robinson, prosecuting, said that Womersley went to the prison for a visiting session for members of the public. A prison officer checked visiting orders at 2.20pm and noticed that Womersley did not seem to be at ease.
"Her mouth was bulging and moving around repeatedly," said Mr Robinson. The prison officer suspected that she might be hiding something and asked her to spit out anything that she was concealing. She did so and a two-inch package was seen.
It was sent to the police. Drugs were found inside, including relatively small amounts of crack cocaine, heroin and six Subutex tablets. Keep up to date with all the latest crime and court news from Hull with our free newsletter The potential value of the drugs in prison was, because of their "scarcity" there, estimated at £2,640.
Womersley made admissions during police interview and claimed that she had been told to take the drugs into the prison. It was likely that there had been an element of pressure put on her by her boyfriend, who was serving a prison sentence at the time, said Mr Robinson. She had convictions for shop theft.
Julia Baggs, mitigating, said that Womersley had suffered alcohol problems. Womersley told the court that her boyfriend was still in prison. "I think he has got another 18 months," she added.
Judge John Thackray KC told Womersley: "This was a rather clumsy, unsophisticated attempt to try to take drugs into prison. You were obviously very nervous and anxious and were quickly discovered. "You made admissions in interview.
This is a very serious offence." Womersley, of Langsett Road, Sheffield, was given a two-year suspended prison sentence, six months' alcohol treatment, a six-month 9pm to 6am curfew and 20 days' rehabilitation. She was warned that she could be jailed if she failed to comply with the order.
"It will almost certainly be immediate prison," said Judge Thackray. Get all the latest crime and court news in Hull straight to your mobile via WhatsApp by clicking here . If you don’t like our community, you can leave any time.
We also treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here ..
