A pregnant woman has been jailed after smuggling drugs into Cardiff prison and being caught on CCTV sneaking them to her abusive partner.
Michaela Jones, 26, saw her then-boyfriend Ryan Jones during a prison visit at the Clink Restaurant in Cardiff on October 30 last year when she smuggled in Diclazepam and tobacco wrapped in cling film.
She was caught on CCTV taking the package from her left trouser pocket and quickly placing it on the table before Ryan Jones took it from the table and placed it in his shoe.
Before the visit finished the prisoner was searched by prison officers who found the package and Jones was immediately arrested.
Prosecutor John Warren told a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard there were fragments of Diclazepam tablets, four cigarette papers, and 4.2g of tobacco in the package Jones had brought into the prison.
She initially denied having any knowledge of the Diclazepam, claiming a friend of Ryan Jones had given it to her and asked her to give it to her parter.
The defendant later pleaded guilty to two counts of conveying prohibited items into prison.
Mum-of-five caught trying to sneak drugs into prison in her bra as she visited ex-boyfriend
The court heard Jones had told the probation service she was fearful of repercussions from Ryan Jones if she did not comply with his demand to bring him the package, having suffered domestic violence and abuse at his hands.
She said she had left school at 12 years old and started drinking alcohol at the age of 15 but later became an alcoholic after the death of her mother, having previously lost her father and her sister, drinking up to two to three litres of cider a day.
Since her arrest Jones has split up with Ryan Jones and is in a new relationship and in the early stages of pregnancy, the court heard.
Kathryn Lane, defending, said: "These bereavements triggered her to seek the comfort of alcohol and she had never been able to battle that addiction but she realises now she's pregnant there is no alternative.
"She wants her baby to be healthy and she's motivated to address that addiction that been the cause of all of her offending and problems."
Sentencing, the Recorder of Cardiff Judge Eleri Rees told Jones those who take drugs into prison go to prison.
She added: "You have seen the CCTV footage and you appear to be an entirely willing participant in supplying those drugs and you're laughing and engaging with your then partner – no appearance of hesitation, fear or pressure.
"I accept that you are pregnant and have been a long-term alcoholic, which is something you need to address, but nothing I have heard today has persuaded me that an immediate custodial sentence should not be imposed."
Jones, of Greenhill Place, Gelligaer, Caerphilly , was jailed for six months.
