Mother given community order for trying to smuggle cannabis into Brinsford prison

A mother who tried to smuggle cannabis into Brinsford Young Offenders Institution has been spared a prison sentence.

Published Aug 9, 2014

Natisha Toole was caught out by a sniffer dog when she was visiting an inmate at the prison.

At Stafford Crown Court this week, Mr Lee Egan, prosecuting, said the 23 year old was stopped and handed over a bag of herbal cannabis with a street value of about £90 but £360 in a custodial environment.

She claimed she was bringing in the drugs because she had been threatened by men who threatened to kill her three-month-old son if she did not comply.

Toole told police she had been stopped in the street on two occasions by men who had threatened her and made death threats towards her child. A package was then shoved through her letterbox with a note directing her to take it to Brinsford YOI in Featherstone.

The package was not intended for the inmate she was visiting on April 10, the court heard.

Toole, who lives in Birmingham, admitted possessing drugs with intent to supply.

Mr Nigel Stelling, defending, said Toole had already spent six weeks in custody as a result.

He said: "It is clear it was concern for her child that led her to commit this offence.

"Had those threats been confined to her, she would have taken her chances, but the threats to her child no doubt heightened in her, it meant a risk too big to take."

Judge Paul Glenn sentenced Toole to an 18-month community order.

Judge Glenn said he was willing to take a chance on her in the future.

"You told the police you behaved in this way because of threats directed at your very young son. You say you were prepared to withstand threats made to you.

"You have been trying to do your best for your son, you have done your best to break away from people you were associating with who were no good for you. I am going to take a chance on you."