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A man has been locked up for trying to smuggle drugs into a prison.

Laurence Woods, who admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession with intent to supply cannabis, was jailed after a hearing at MoldCrown Court yesterday.

The 33 year-old of Michigan Close, Liverpool, had gone to HMP Berwyn prison in Wrexham on Thursday July 19 last year to visit a friend.

He was asked by a guard whether he had any prohibited items and replied he didn't.

During a search the guard felt something in Woods' clothing and asked again whether he had any prohibited items.

North Wales Police were called and Woods was told he would have to wait when he tried to leave the jail.

When police arrived they found a package strapped to his inner thigh containing 1.02 grammes of cocaine - worth an estimated £150 inside prison - and 3.42 grammes of cannabis with a value of around £110.

Prosecutor Nicholas Williams said the defendant accepted he was taking the drugs in to prison for a friend but it was not a financial transaction.

It emerged he had 51 previous convictions ranging from three years for robbery, to burglary and drugs possession charges against his name.

Defending Woods, Martin Walsh said the best thing he could say for his client was that he had given an early guilty plea at interview. He added that since he had been in Altcourse prison Woods had been on a methadone reduction programme.

Sentencing Woods, 33 of Michigan Close, Liverpool, Judge Parry said drugs in prisons were the cause of "serious disciplinary issues".

He added: "Slowly but surely the penny will drop that people who take drugs into prisons go into immediate custody.

"For supplying a similar amount of drugs the starting point is three-and-a-half years."

Judger Parry said Woods' previous convictions pushed the period up but the fact he had no previous for supply, he "put his hands up" and confessed to the crime quickly and it was a small amount, meant he would impose a sentence of 28 months in custody.