Joshua Smith, 30, failed three times to throw £12,000 worth of Class A drugs over a prison wall before finally succeeding on his fourth attempt, CCTV footage has shown.
The bungling crook was captured on camera trying to launch a black package containing drugs over a brick wall into HMP Hull, East Yorkshire. Each of his first three attempts saw the package hit the wall and fall back to the ground.
Fourth attempt succeeds but guard spots it
It was only on the fourth occasion that Smith managed to get the package over the wall and into the prison grounds. However, a prison guard watched the parcel drop over the wall and reported the incident, leading to Smith's arrest and questioning.
When the package was later intercepted, officers found a mixture of Class A and B drugs as well as a mobile phone.
Investigation and sentencing
Detective Constable Heather Butler, who led the investigation, said: "Following the report from the prison an investigation into the contents of the package and how it arrived at the prison was launched. The package was analysed leading to the discovery of an estimated £12k of drugs including class A drugs and a mobile phone."
"CCTV was acquired from the outside of the prison showing a man appearing to make several unsuccessful and a final successful attempt to throw a package over the prison wall shortly before the prison officer located the package inside the prison," she added.
Smith, of no fixed abode, initially indicated that he did throw the package but quickly changed his answers to questions to no comment. He appeared at Hull Crown Court on Monday, where he was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison for two counts of throwing a prohibited article into a prison. He had pleaded guilty to the offences at a previous hearing.
Police warning
DC Butler said: "Smith made the decision to facilitate dangerous drugs entering the prison, this behaviour will not be tolerated, and we continue to work closely with HM Prison Service to ensure those who engage in this type of crime are held accountable."
"Thankfully on this occasion the package was found almost instantly and never reached it's intended destination, however these drugs could have had catastrophic consequences and facilitating drugs entering a prison is a criminal offence," she added, urging anyone with information to report it via 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
