Sheffield addict smuggled crack and painkillers worth £800 into prison in “panic” after arrest on street
Woman hid drugs including crack cocaine in her bra in panic after arrest
A Sheffield addict smuggled crack and powerful painkillers drugs into prison in a “panic” when she was arrested for breach just after scoring from her dealer.
Sarah Walker, aged 37, was found to have hidden crack and class C drugs including diazepam, amitriptyline and pregabalin worth £800 in her bra while being admitted into HMP New Hall.
Drugs experts estimated the crack would have been “three to five times” more valuable in jail than on the street while the painkillers would be more than twice as valuable.
However the court heard Walker had merely hidden the drugs in panic - having been arrested on the street hours earlier, moments after buying them.
While being admitted to jail, the drugs fell from her bra, leading to their discovery.
Judge David Dixon, at Sheffield Crown Court, told her drugs were used as “currency” in a “really negative way” in prison, however he added: “I don’t believe for a second this was deliberate”.
Barrister Bev Wright, prosecuting, described how some of the crack and opioids were discovered in some toilet roll in a prison cubicle where Walker had just given a urine sample on December 17, 2021.
Walker confessed to the rest when a strip search was authorised.
Prosecutor Ms Wright said: “she was interviewed and said she had a crack habit. On the day of her arrest she had just secured drugs from her dealer.
“She moved the drugs into her bra before being sent to HMP New Hall. She had taken a couple of pregabalin and was quite intoxicated. The drugs fell out during the urine sample.
“She panicked, which is when she discarded the rest.”
Walker had 16 convictions for 55 offences, the court heard.
Her barrister Vanessa Saxton said reports showed Walker had made “good progress since the offence”.
The court heard the five-year delay in proceedings was due to problems with forensic evidence.
Handing Walker a two-year community order, Judge Dixon told her: “I accept you had been to see your dealer but you should have done the right thing and said I’ve got drugs on me.”
The judge noted reports showed Walker had been a “wreck”, however the “penny” had finally “dropped”.
Walker, of Abbeydale Road, admitted binging a prohibited article into prison.
She was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity days.