A PRISONER hatched a plot for his girlfriend to smuggle drugs into jail to enable him to repay a debt, a court heard.

But, unknown to Paul Eric Gallagher, his calls to Carol Hutchinson were monitored by Durham Prison staff.

Durham Crown Court heard that Gallagher's cell-mate arranged for his sister to pass £50 on to Hutchinson to enable her to buy drugs.

Tom Finch, prosecuting, said a package containing cannabis was also sent to Hutchinson's address, by special delivery.

"In due course, the visit was arranged between Hutchinson and Gallagher, and, as a result of intelligence, a prison officer stopped her as she was going through the security system.

"Police were called, and she was arrested.

"A search was made, and no drugs were found on her, but she volunteered that she had a handbag in a secure locker in the prison visitors' centre.

"That was searched, and the drugs were found."

The discovery included cannabis and buprenorphine tablets.

Mr Finch said tht when interviewed by police, Hutchinson eventually "came clean", and told police she felt "pressurised and almost bullied" into taking drugs into the prison.

But she said it was the first time she was asked to do it, and she had not actually gone through with it, added Mr Finch.

Gavin Doig, mitigating for Gallagher, who is nearing the end of a two-and-a-half year sentence, said he was in debt, and this was his way of paying it off.

Mr Doig said Gallagher wanted to take the blame, as he was just using Hutchinson.

Michael Hill, mitigating for Hutchinson, said she had no previous convictions, but she had warned her son she may be sent to prison.

Hutchinson, 31, of Alexandra Street, Wallsend, North Tyneside, admitted two charges of possessing a controlled drug with intent to supply.

Gallagher, 37, of Chesters Avenue, Longbenton, Newcastle, admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of drugs.

Judge Richard Lowden added nine months to Gallagher's prison sentence, and imposed a 12-month community supervision order on Hutchinson.

He added that had she attempted to pass the package to Gallagher she, too, would have been jailed.