Couple Sentenced for Smuggling Illicit Items over Wormwood Scrubs' Wall
Items on fishing line included drugs, vodka, a knife ... and a McDonald's McMuffin
A couple who were caught trying to smuggle a range of items including drugs, alcohol, a knife, mobile phones and a McDonald's McMuffin into Wormwood Scrubs Prison were sentenced on Thursday, October 29 at Isleworth Crown Court.
Karl Jensen, 27, of St. Ervans Road W10 received two and a half years' imprisonment.
His girlfriend, Lisa Mary Hutchinson, 26, also of St. Ervans Road W10 was sentenced to a 12 month community order and is required to attend a community rehabilitation programme.
The couple used a wash bag tied to fishing line to smuggle the items over the prison wall including a McDonald's McMuffin, a plastic Kinder Surprise egg containing five mobile SIM cards, a bottle of vodka and a number of USB chargers.
Jensen had pleaded guilty to seven charges at an earlier hearing at Isleworth Crown Court as follows:
Conspiracy to supply class A drug ¨C cocaine - two and a half year sentence
Conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class B - cannabis resin - two and a half year sentence
Conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class B - cannabis resin - two and a half year sentence
Conveying a List A prohibited article into/out of a prison - two and a half year sentence
Conveying a List B article into/out of a prison - 12 month sentence
Conveying a List B article into/out of a prison - 12 months sentence
Conveying a List B article into/out of a prison - 12 months sentence
Sentences to be served concurrently
Hutchinson pleaded guilty to allowing her premises to be used for the supply of class A and class B drugs on 30 July at Isleworth Crown Court.
The court heard how on 15 October 2014 staff at Wormwood Scrubs prison, Shepherds Bush, spotted a man and woman in Artillery Lane, the road which runs alongside the prison wall.
Watching CCTV, staff witnessed the man tie a bag to a rope and watched as the bag was pulled up into the prison and into one of the cells.
Police were immediately alerted and attended the scene. Guided by the CCTV operators, they stopped the man and woman - who were later identified as Hutchinson and Jensen.
Meanwhile prison officers located the cell the bag had been pulled into. Inside they found the bag contained a knife with a five-inch blade, a Smartwatch, a mobile phone and other prohibited items. Prison officers also recovered two large wraps of herbal cannabis, a large block of cannabis resin and a wrap of cocaine.
Also found at the home were a quantity of 'top up' cards with their SIMs removed and the box for a Smartwatch mobile phone, whose serial number was the same as the Smartwatch found at the prison.
Detective Constable Andy Griffin of Hammersmith and Fulham CID said:"Jensen and Hutchinson tried to smuggle prohibited items including drugs, alcohol and a knife inside a prison; the combination could have been deadly.
"Thankfully vigilant prison staff foiled the plot and they were quickly arrested. This case serves as a strong reminder of the very serious consequences of smuggling prohibited goods into a prison."
Governor Peter Nichols of HMP Wormwood Scrubs, said: "This successful prosecution was due to the efforts made between both agencies - the police and the prison service - and highlights the importance of collaborative working and maintaining positive professional relationships and the sharing of information with our partners.
"A Notice to Prisoners will be published to highlight this and the intent, that Wormwood Scrubs is committed to working with our Partner Agencies to assist in prosecuting those who attempt to convey and distribute illicit items into our Prison.
"I thank all staff involved in this successful operation on both sides."
November 2, 2015
