A prisoner's friend has joined him behind bars after supplying him with heroin during a visit.
David Hogg acted out of "misplaced loyalty" when he took the deadly drug and some tablets to his pal of 20 years in HMP Northumberland.
Newcastle Crown Court he agreed to take the package because his friend was in debt to other inmates.
It was during a visit to the jail in Acklington, Northumberland, on March 20 last year that the offence was spotted on CCTV.
Barry Robson, prosecuting, said: "An officer manning the CCTV saw the defendant pass of a prohibited article between himself and the inmate he was visiting.
"It was put on the table by the defendant and taken by the inmate.
"The defendant tried to pick up some dishes on the table to cover up his actions."
Both men were detained and a package made up of three layers of plastic film contained 587mg of heroin and 106 tablets of two class C drugs.
Mr Robson said: "The defendant was arrested and taken to the police station.
"He said he got a phone call from an inmate and they indicated they were in debt and needed drugs bringing in to help pay off the debt.
"He said his heart ruled his head and he agreed to bring them in.
"He said he didn't know exactly what was in the package but he agreed he passed the items."
Hogg, 39, of Maude Terrace, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, who has 49 previous convictions and previously served time for possessing heroin, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and the two class C drugs and was jailed for 20 months.
Recorder Mark McKone said the friend had told Hogg he was in debt and physical danger and he decided to help him after two weeks mulling it over.
But the judge told him: "Why this is particularly serious is drugs threaten prison security and disrupt the rehabilitation of prisoners.
"Other prisoners and prison officers are put at risk."
Nigel Soppitt, defending, said: "He was a friend of 20 years, they were very close.
"The friend was constantly requesting drugs, he was aware he was in financial difficulties.
"While there were no overt threats made to him, he says people were contacting him saying they knew what kind of car his partner drove and where she worked.
"He felt intimidated and hired a lock-up garage to put the car in."
