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BEHIND BARS: Samantha Brown

A PRISON custody officer who smuggled drugs into a south London jail has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Samantha Brown, 22, of Hackney, east London was convicted of misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to supply drugs at HMP Brixton.

The recipient of her criminal activity, prisoner Leon Jackson, 35, received a five-month jail sentence after being convicted of transmitting sounds and/or images from within the prison.

The pair were apprehended following a pro-active and intelligence led investigation, which revealed that Brown was being paid to traffic cannabis into the prison for Jackson.

A search of Jackson’s cell led to the discovery of a mobile phone he had used to communicate with Brown on a daily basis. Analysis of call records indicated hundreds of calls were made between the two.

Brown secreted the drugs within her bra and passed them to Jackson and other inmates when they attended the crown court.

Detective Inspector Neil Smithson, said: "Police and the Prison Service have identified that the courts are another potential route for drugs to enter prisons. We have worked closely with Serco - who run the court cells - on this case, which should send a message out to court staff that any wrongdoing will lead to arrest and conviction."