A WOMAN – who feared her partner – tried to smuggle a heroin substitute into prison for him on a visit.

But, vigilant staff in Durham Prison’s visitor centre observed Stacey Louise Ryan reaching into her clothing and passing something to her now former partner, on December 20, last year.

Durham Crown Court heard a 190mg buprenorphine tablet was found on him.

Ryan was arrested and admitted having tried to smuggle the pill into the prison.

The court was told she was on police bail at the time, under investigation for using a stolen bank card.

Ryan, 25, of Prince Avenue, Whinney Banks, Middlesbrough, admitted conveying a prohibited item into the prison at a previous hearing.

Sentence was adjourned to allow the single mother of a five-year-old to make childcare arrangements.

On her return, the court was told suitable childcare arrangements were in place.

But, Christopher Sykes, for Ryan, urged Recorder Ray Singh to avoid an immediate prison sentence as she has been offered a place on a probation-run programme for women who are overcoming “coercive” relationships.

He told the court she felt pressured to take the drug to the prison by her “controlling” partner at the time.

Recorder Singh said an immediate short prison sentence may be of less value to Ryan than her taking part in the probation programme.

He passed a ten-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, with a four-month electronically-monitored 9pm to 6am home curfew. Her community order for fraud will continue, in the meantime.