Man jailed after trying to smuggle mobile phones into Northants prison in a pair of shoes

A scaffolder who attempted to smuggle two mobile phones, a charger and five sim cards into a Northamptonshire prison has been jailed for 20 months.
HMP Onley PrisonHMP Onley Prison
HMP Onley Prison

Sam Branson, aged 23, went to visit an inmate at HMP Onley on January 23 and he was seen to swap his footwear with the prisoner.

Prison guards then carried out a search and found two mobile phones, with chargers as well as five sim cards had been placed inside a pair of trainers.

Branson, who admitted trying to smuggle the items into the prison, was found to be in breach of a 16-month suspended prison sentence he received in July last year for causing grievous bodily harm.

Judge Rupert Mayo decided to activate 14 months of the prison sentence and added an extra six months for Branson’s attempt to smuggle the mobile phones into the prison.

Branson, of Elmsthorpe Rise, Leicester, is likely to serve 10 months in jail before being released on licence.

Judge Mayo said: “Putting mobile phones into prisons can disrupt the good order as it allows prisoners to communicate with their criminal associates.”