Woman who smuggled tobacco into Shropshire prison spat at police officer
A woman who smuggled tobacco into Shropshire's Stoke Heath Prison and spat on a police officer while being escorted away has been fined.
Michelle Lovatt-Hill admitted taking tobacco, which is a 'list C' contraband item, into a visiting area at the prison, near Market Drayton on May 14, last year.
On Monday, Telford Magistrates Court heard that Lovatt-Hill, 40, was visiting Steven Salt and had the tobacco hidden in the waistband of her trousers.
She handed it to Salt in a visiting area in view of prison officers, but he managed to hide it on his person.
Rachel Bentley, prosecuting, said Lovatt-Hill was led away but became aggressive, and spat in the direction of PC Selena Bradley who had been called for.
Representing Lovatt-Hill, Stephen Vasey said she didn't deliberately spit in Ms Bradley's direction but had an eye condition which meant she would sometimes go temporarily blind.
Lovatt-Hill, of Uttoxeter Road, Stoke-on-Trent, was fined £120 for bringing a prohibited article into prison with the intent for it to go to a prisoner.
She was also fined £90 after admitting the count of assaulting a constable.
'List C' items are the lowest level of prohibited goods in prison, and the maximum penalty for giving them to a prisoner is a £1,000 fine.
