Joshua Smith, 30, has been sentenced to three years and eight months in prison for attempting to throw a package containing approximately £12,000 worth of Class A and B drugs and a mobile phone into HMP Hull. The incident occurred on July 11, last year.
During the attempt, captured on CCTV, Smith was seen making multiple unsuccessful throws of the package over the prison wall. A prison guard observed the discarded package and reported the incident. Smith, who is homeless, was later identified and arrested.
Authorities launched an investigation into the contents of the package and how it reached the prison. Analysis confirmed the presence of drugs and a mobile phone. Detective Constable Heather Butler stated that while the package was recovered before reaching its intended recipients, the act of facilitating drugs into a prison is a serious offense.
Smith initially denied involvement but later changed his response to 'no comment' when questioned. He pleaded guilty to two counts of throwing a prohibited article into a prison at Hull Crown Court. Police are continuing to investigate drug offenses within prisons and encourage the public to report suspicious behavior.