A prisoner attempted to stuff drugs down his pants and run away after he was challenged by prison officers.
James Gorrie was passed a package containing cannabis and etizolam by Ashley Cussick as she visited him at Perth prison.
The exchange was witnessed by prison staff and as he was challenged the 44-year-old jumped up and ran away, only to be taken down by multiple prison officers.
Yesterday at Perth Sheriff Court the pair were both jailed.
Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson told the court: “On the afternoon of May 19 Accused Cussick visited Perth Prison to visit Accused Gorrie.
“They sat on opposite sides of the table to each other. She was seen to be fumbling in her pocket before passing something to Accused Gorrie.
“A prison officer approached both accused and asked him what he had in his hand. Accused Gorrie appeared to place something in his underwear and began running round the room, where there were other prisoners and their visitors.
“Prison officers gave chase and took him to the ground. He was taken to another room an strip searched.”
She said that cannabis resin worth £15 and crushed etizolam tablets worth £37 were found on the accused.
Solicitor Gary Fowlis said the drugs were for Gorrie’s own use.
He said: “Unfortunately his life has been punctuated with the use of illicit substances. It was poor decision making on his part to be in possession of controlled drugs in a prison setting.
“His position is that the drugs were for his own consumption.”
David Duncan, acting for Cussick, said she had suffered drug problems of her own.
He said: “She thought she was doing Mr Gorrie a favour. She accepts it was foolhardy in the extreme ad there was precious little chance of avoiding detection.”
Gorrie, a prisoner at Perth, admitted two charges of possession of controlled drugs at the prison on May 19.
He further admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice by refusing to hand over the drugs, hiding them in his underwear and attempting to run away.
Cussick, who is being held at Polmont, admitted two charges of being concerned in the supply of drugs.
Gorrie was jailed for a total of 12 months, while Cussick, also 44, received a two-year sentence.
