Prison worker smuggled drugs

A package containing almost £20,000 worth of drugs and two mobile phones tumbled from the trousers of a prison support worker when he was searched at the gates of Featherstone prison.

Nigel Eyre tried to cover up the cling film package with his feet as it fell to the floor. It contained more than £15,000 worth of heroin, hundreds of pounds worth of cannabis, 194 steroid tablets, a crown court heard.

The value of the drugs was estimated at £19,500 and the mobile phones had a value of £500 each on the prisoners' black market.

Yesterday Eyre was jailed for six years for smuggling drugs and mobile phones to convicts. He had touted his services to inmates to pay off gambling debts, Stafford crown court was told.

One prisoner to take up his offer was convicted drug peddler Gary Bickmore, nicknamed "Pitbull", who was caged for seven years.

Mr Daron Whitehead, prosecuting, said that Eyre was caught at the prison gates last November.

At the time, Eyre was a prison support officer whose job was to book out tools to inmates working in the prison workshops. Bickmore was serving four years for supplying crack cocaine.

Eyre, aged 31, of East Road, Brinsford, and Bickmore, 42, of Brunswick Road, Cannock, each admitted charges of conspiracy to supply drugs.

Judge Granville Styler told Eyre: "You were in a position of trust and you were prepared to use your position to smuggle drugs to the prisoners."

Mr Whitehead said it had been suggested by inmates that Eyre was promoting himself as someone who could smuggle mobile phones into prison and it was common knowledge among the prisoners.

"He would do this to pay off large debts. Bickmore was the first inmate to offer cash for his services."

Eyre was £10,000 in debt and had a fruit machine gambling habit, he added.