Woman admits bringing drugs into Shropshire's Stoke Heath prison

Victoria Seymour pleaded guilty to two charges of taking the prohibited items into HMP Stoke Heath, near Market Drayton, when she appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

Mr David Swinnerton, representing Seymour, said the plea had been made on the basis that she was told to commit the crime by a man she was frightened of and was not going to make any gain for herself. He told the court the 35-year-old had claimed the man, whom she knew was a drug dealer, had come to her home the day before she visited the prison in June last year.

The court heard that her partner was a prisoner in Stoke Heath at that time.

Mr Swinnerton said Seymour claimed the man handed her two packages and told her to take them to her partner in prison.

He said she agreed because she was frightened of the man.

Mr Nigel Booth, prosecuting, said Seymour had initially told police that it was her boyfriend who had asked her to bring in the items when she visited.

He said: "There's a difference between what she said then and what she says now."

But he said he would not be seeking a trial of issue to resolve the differing accounts.

Mr Swinnerton asked for the case to be adjourned for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, telling the court that she was a mother of two small children. Recorder Stephen Thomas agreed to adjourn the case but warned Seymour that she may face a custodial sentence.

He told her: "I'm not saying a custodial sentence is inevitable in your case but these are matters that usually result in a custodial sentence."

Seymour, of Newport, South Wales, is expected to be sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court next month.

She was released on unconditional bail until the hearing.