UK NEWS

ADDICT STOLE TO PAY PRISON DRUG DEALERS

It is thought that 55 per cent of all prisoners are problem drug users

Wednesday August 27,2008

By Mark Blacklock

A JUDGE has blasted the drugs epidemic inside Britain’s prisons after jailing an addict who went on a burglary spree to pay dealers’ debts he accrued behind bars.

Junkie James Cook was told his case was a “dreadful reflection” on the nation’s penal system.

Cook, 32, launched his £12,000 one-man crimewave within days of being freed from an earlier sentence for offences linked to his drug addiction.

While behind bars he had been able to continue receiving drugs to feed his habit and had run up massive debts with cellblock dealers.

To repay what he owed, Cook began a two-month campaign of housebreaking, stripping several homes of plasma televisions, laptop computers and jewellery.

He was only caught after entering a property while the owners were still inside and police were called, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Cook, of Newcastle, admitted three burglaries, one attempted burglary and asked for seven similar offences to be considered.

Jailing him for three-and-a-half years, Judge David Hodson said: “What a dreadful reflection on the penal system that people sent to jail come out after their sentences owing money to those who have supplied them with drugs during the period they have been in prison.”

His comments come just weeks after the Government announced plans to spend £80million on new technology and better security to counter drug use within prison.

Equipment to detect and bar mobile phones used by dealers is to be introduced by the Prison Service and devices that scan for goods smuggled inside bodies are to be introduced by next March.

Prisoners will have to wear one-piece suits without pockets during visits and there will be more use of “closed visits” where glass separates a prisoner from their visitor.

The measures follow a four-month review which also found some corrupt prison officers were paid by inmates for phones or drugs.

The report by former chief constable David Blakey said “substantial amounts” of all types of drugs were entering jails by a variety of methods, including smuggling by visitors and disguised packages being thrown over walls.

It is estimated that 55 per cent of prisoners are problem drug users.