Perth Prison staff got a Kinder surprise when they searched an inmate and a plastic egg stuffed with £2,500 of heroin dropped to the floor.
Remand prisoner Paul Stirling told guards: “Your timing couldn’t be better – I’d just taken that out of my a**e.”
The 40-year-old, now serving time for a serious assault, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted being concerned in the supply of class A drugs at the jail on Christmas Eve 2020.
He was handed another 18 months behind bars.
Targeted search
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie told the court: “The accused was on remand at HMP Perth at the time.
“At around 5.40pm, prison officers entered his cell to carry out a search.
“This was a targeted exercise because officers suspected the accused had entered the prison while concealing illicit articles.”
Ms Ritchie said: “The accused, who was in the cell with another prisoner, appeared to be unhappy about a search being carried out.
“As he was escorted out of the cell, a Kinder egg fell to the floor.
“It was concealed by tissue paper.”
Stirling was challenged by officers about the plastic capsule.
He applauded them for their timing and admitted he had just plucked it from his bottom, the court heard.
Stirling chuckled when his comment was read out in court.
Ms Ritchie added: “The accused would not state who he had brought the item in for.”
The egg was seized and analysed.
It’s contents tested positive for heroin, mixed with caffeine and paracetamol.
The almost-half-ounce deal was believed to have a street value of around £530 but worth between £2,000 and £2,500 in prison.
“Officers came to the conclusion that such a quantity of diamorphine, particularly within the prison setting, would be intended for sale or supply,” the prosecutor said.
An ‘atrocious’ criminal history
Solicitor Kenneth Woodburn, defending, told the court: “To put in bluntly, Mr Stirling has quite an atrocious record.
“He is currently serving a sentence for assault and his liberation date would be August next year.
“To his credit, he is keen to have this matter dealt with as quickly as possible.”
Sheriff William Wood told Stirling: “The court must take consideration of the seriousness of this case.
“You have some experience of prison life and you will be well aware of the rules and the consequences of taking drugs into the prison.”
Jailing Stirling for 18 months, the sheriff added: “You will have to serve this consecutively, otherwise it wouldn’t be much of a punishment.”
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