A prison visitor who was caught passing drugs to an inmate during a hug has walked free from court.
Simon Hope said he was told to take the narcotics to HMP Northumberland or face violence after racking up drug debts.
During a visit to a prisoner, he was seen handing him a package during an embrace.
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Hope was facing prison but a judge suspended it after a long delay in the case caused by the police "dropping the ball", together with the fact he says he has now stopped taking drugs.
Newcastle Crown Court heard it was on July 7 2019 that Hope went to the prison, in Acklington, Northumberland.
Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, said CCTV operators saw him hand something to the inmate while greeting him and he put it down his trousers.
The inmate was strip searched and found to have three strips of tablets in cling film in his boxer shorts.
There were around 30 buprenorphine tablets and 1.1g of another class C drug.
Hope, 29, of Newbolt Court, Gateshead, who has 25 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to conveying banned items into prison and a separate charge of making off without paying for fuel.
Sentencing him, Miss Recorder Davies said: "Drugs cause violence and upset in prison and for that reason it's much more serious than the usual case of supply."
The judge said there had been "an appalling delay in the case" and told Hope: "In view of the inordinate delay of two-and-a-half years, together with your improved circumstances, I'm persuaded to suspend the prison sentence.
"That's an exceptional course."
He was given 12 weeks suspended for two years with a rehabilitation activity requirement.
Rachel Hedworth, defending, said: "His involvement arose from being approached by those to whom he owed a substantial drugs debt, saying if he didn't do it he would be, in effect, end up in hospital."
Miss Hedworth told the court he is now working, has stopped taking cannabis and cocaine and added: "There is still a glimmer of hope."
