A MAN with drug debts tried to smuggle mobile phones into an inmate at a top security prison to wipe out some of his arrears, a court heard.

But, authorities at Frankland Prison, Durham, were aware of the plot, and segregated Andrew Urmston on his arrival, from Greater Manchester, to visit the inmate, on Saturday, June 11.

Durham Crown Court heard that he was told he was to be searched as there were suspicions he was in possession of illicit items.

Paul Rooney, prosecuting, said Urmston produced a cling film-wrapped parcel from a pocket.

Asked what it contained, the would-be prison visitor replied: “It’s two phones”.

Mr Rooney said the lining of Urmston’s pocket was found to have been removed giving access to a hole in his underpants where the package had been secreted.

He was arrested, but declined to answer police questions.

Appearing via video link from nearby Durham Prison, the 27-year-old defendant, of Farnworth, in Bolton, admitted attempting to convey an illicit article into a prison.

Julian White, mitigating, said Urmston had a debt to, “individuals in the Manchester area”, and was pressured into attempting to take the package into the inmate, who he did not even know.

As a result he went on an earlier “recce” visit to familiarise himself with the inmate.

Jailing him for eight months, Judge Simon Hickey said modern mobile phones with camera capabilities potentially compromised security in custodial settings and of prison officers.

Judge Hickey added that such offences had to be met by custodial sentences as a deterrent to others considering smuggling such items into prisons.