A Chester mum who took drugs into a Warrington prison to help her son after he was threatened over a debt has been put behind bars herself.

Lorraine Barlow, who has never been in trouble before, was caught out when she was found with the smuggled drugs – cocaine, Spice and cannabis – hidden under paper napkins on a tray while visiting her son at HMP Risley.

Liverpool Crown Court heard drugs have a much higher value in prison than on the streets and the items she tried to sneak in on January 30 last year were worth a total of about £3,850 behind bars.

Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said that her eldest son rang her to say he had a drugs debt in prison which would be written off if she took drugs into the prison for him.

A package containing the illegal items was pushed through her front door and the next day she took them with her to visit him.

“A sniffer dog gave a positive indication and she was searched but the package was not located,” said Mr Blasbery.

She was permitted to enter but only in a closed visitation area and when she went in carrying a tray a prison officer searched it and found the drugs, he said.

The 3.5 grams of cocaine was 75 per cent pure and behind bars was worth £3,000, he said.

When interviewed said that her son had rung her from prison as he had run up a drugs debt and asked her to bring drugs in for him.

Paul Wood, defending, said that 43-year-old Barlow is a hard working mum-of-three with no previous convictions.

She was vulnerable and had been exploited and was remorseful, he said.

She had long standing amphetamine habit but began counselling last year. She used cannabis and cocaine socially and had alcohol binges but was not alcoholic, said Mr Wood.

Barlow, of Wordsworth Crescent, pleaded guilty to conveying the drugs into prison and was jailed for 16 months.

The judge, Recorder Peter Wright, KC, said, “You and the public well know that drugs in prison are endemic. They are currency within the prison setting and you know if you are caught taking drugs into prison then you can expect to go to custody.

“What you did was not only out of character but in circumstances in which you had been under pressure, coercion and intimidation to behave as you did.

“That did not excuse clearly what you did. Sentences are set with deterrence in mind.”