Woman and prisoner sentenced after smuggling drugs into jail

A woman and a serving prisoner at HMP Oakwood have been sentenced after we found out they were smuggling drugs into prison.

In August 2022, Alice Thursfield, aged 29, of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, concealed packages of cannabis and tobacco when she visited prisoner Eric Pearce, aged 27, of HMP Oakwood, Featherstone. 

Prison officers noticed that Thursfield and Pearce were monitoring staff movements, raising suspicions that something was happening during the visit.

Pearce was later searched, leading to the discovery of the packages of drugs that had been exchanged.

The estimated street value of the drugs was believed to be worth between £180 and £270.

Both of them were questioned about what happened and charged with the offences. They pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing before being sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday (22 August).

Serving prisoner Pearce was sentenced to six-months imprisonment, to run consecutively to his existing prison term, for causing another person to bring a list ‘A’ prohibited article into a prison.

Thursfield was handed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12-months, and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

PC Thomas Evans, from the south Staffordshire local policing team, was the officer in charge of the case. He said: “We want to make it clear that those seeking to smuggle items into our prisons will be investigated and brought before the courts.

“Our prison officers are well trained to spot signs of suspicious activity and will continue to work proactively to target those attempting to bring packages into prisons.”