A glamorous pub manager has been sentenced to jail after being apprehended for smuggling cannabis-infused sweets into a prison to deliver them to her boyfriend. Montana Robertson, aged 23, concealed the illicit substances along with three mobile phone SIM cards inside her mouth during a visit to HMP Parc, located in Bridgend, South Wales.
Discovery and Arrest
Robertson was arrested after prison staff conducted a search and discovered the hidden items. The incident unfolded at the category B prison, where security measures led to her immediate detention. Following her arrest, police executed a search of Robertson's residence, uncovering additional cannabis jellies and cannabis gelato with an estimated street value of £70.
Court Proceedings and Defence
During the hearing at Newport Crown Court, prosecutor Kathryn Lane detailed how Robertson admitted to acting under peer pressure, acknowledging that at 23 years old, she should have known better. Robertson pleaded guilty to two charges of bringing prohibited articles into a prison and one count of cannabis possession.
Defence barrister Nigel Fryer described the situation as an absolute tragedy, noting that Robertson had lost her position as a pub manager in Cardiff due to her actions. He emphasised that she previously led a decent life with friends and promising future prospects, but her decisions were utterly foolish. Fryer added that Robertson was extremely candid with probation services and is now petrified of facing imprisonment.
Personal Circumstances and Sentencing
The court heard that Robertson is no longer in a relationship with the inmate she visited at HMP Parc. Character references presented spoke highly of her, and it was revealed she had been studying an Open University course with aspirations to run her own business. Robertson, originally from Newport but now residing in Pentwyn, Cardiff, also provides financial assistance to her mother.
Judge Matthew Porter-Bryant addressed Robertson, stating she acted out of a misplaced loyalty to her ex-boyfriend, citing sympathy and external pressures as factors. He acknowledged her genuine remorse and the loss of her respectable role in the pub trade. Ultimately, Robertson was sentenced to 50 days in jail, marking a stark fall from grace for the former pub manager.
