A JUDGE issued a warning to people who try to smuggle drugs into prison, despite freeing a woman caught with tablets worth hundreds of pounds on the black market.

Factory worker Sandra Fox hid the heroin substitute pills in her bra when she went to visit her suicidal son in Holme House Prison, Stockton, in November, a court heard.

The 40-year-old also concealed amphetamines in a make-up bag and left it in a visitors' locker, but later told police the powder was for herself to help her stay slim.

At Teesside Crown Court yesterday, Judge Bryan Forster gave Fox a fourmonth jail sentence, suspended for a year, with 12 months of probation service supervision. The judge told Fox he was saving her from an immediate jail sentence after he heard how she took the risk because she was worried about her son.

He said: "There are many notices at the prison indicating that it is a serious offence to try to take in or to take in drugs, and you could not have complained if I sentenced you to four months' imprisonment today.

"I have looked at all the information about you and basically you are a good person.

"You are doing the best you can in difficult circumstances to keep your head above the water and keep your family going. You work hard and you do not have an easy life at all.

"I accept you committed this offence in particular circumstances, but whatever be the situation, it appears you were under considerable pressure at the time. Your son may have had suicidal thoughts and I accept the views of the probation worker that emotion gained the better of you.

"It should be well-known that anybody committing this type of offence will receive a sentence of imprisonment, but equally it is in the public interest that you should be able to continue working and continue to lead that worthwhile life as a mother and wife in keeping this family on its feet."

Analise Haughstad, in mitigation, told the court that Fox's partner and 23-year-old son both became addicted to drugs while in prison, and that she acted out of desperation.

Ms Haughstad said that the son tried to hang himself while on remand earlier at a young offenders' institution, and Fox took the Subutex pills into Holme House Prison to save him.

Warren Grier, prosecuting, said the eight tablets would have been worth £60 each behind bars, while the amphetamines were worth more than £120. Fox, of Broadstone Way, Bradford, admitted possessing a Class C drug with intent to supply and possessing a Class B drug on November 18.