Jail time for prison heroin smuggler

Published on 4th September 2008 in News

A judge has given a prison drugs smuggler a stern lecture after becoming the third woman in four months to be convicted of taking drugs into East Yorkshire jails.

Drug abuser Michelle Evans (25), hid £1,500 worth of heroin in her knickers and got past security at Everthorpe Prison before she was stopped handing it to her boyfriend Kevin Haskins.

Sentencing Miss Evans at Hull Crown Court on Tuesday (September 2) Recorder Jeremy Hill-Baker told her: "It is a well-known fact that drugs cause a major problem in prison. It is well known because all over the walls in prison visiting areas are warnings about taking drugs into prison. Heroin is particularly dangerous. Those who take heroin in to prison must go to prison themselves. Sentences range up to seven years. The case law shows cases particularly relating to women, often young women who are vulnerable to persuasion."

He told her he acknowledged she had problems following a miscarriage, but also was the subject of a conditional discharge at the time.

He said: "I have to balance what is good for you with my public duty."

Evans, of Moor Avenue, Tang Hall, York, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to a charge of possession of heroin with intent to supply on March 14.

In identical offences single parent Kyley Pickering, 28, was jailed for two years in June after smuggling £1,000 worth of heroin in to Everthorpe, near Brough. In July Tracy Kemp, 37, was jailed for 15 months also at Hull Crown Court for smuggling £1,200 worth of heroin into Full Sutton Prison.

Crown barrister Jharna Jobes told the latest hearing Evans was targeted by prison staff as suspected of trying to breach Everthorpe security. He said she was searched at the 650-inmate prison as she went in, but prison dogs did not detect anything.

Still suspicious, she was watched while she visited her boyfriend Haskins. After she went to toilet she was searched again. Evans was found to have a total of 8.9grams of heroin with a 40 per cent purity in three packages of balloons.

In a pre-sentence report she said she was in fear of her boyfriend's safety.

Defending Mrs Taryn Turner said: "She had not found herself before the courts until 2006. It followed a miscarriage. That upset her tremendously and led her to commit criminal offences."

Evans had convictions for possession of an offence weapon drunk in a York night club and stealing a purse hanging over her when she tried to smuggle drugs.

Haskins was watching from the public gallery supporting her. Mrs Turner said: "She is not enjoying custody one little bit. She is engaged and wants to settle down and have a family when she is released. She has made the wrong choices and she knows she must pay for that."

As the judge passed a total sentence of two years. Haskins rose smiling and shouted to his future wife: "You will be out in seven months. Thank you Judge."