CCTV footage shows a topless man, Joshua Smith, 30, attempting to throw £12,000 worth of drugs over the wall of HMP Hull. The clip, released by Humberside Police, shows Smith failing three times to get the bundle over in broad daylight on July 11 last year, before succeeding on his fourth attempt.
Package found almost instantly
The package drew the attention of a guard inside the jail in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Police said analysis of the parcel confirmed an estimated £12,000 of drugs were inside, including a mix of Class A and B substances, as well as a mobile phone.
After his arrest, Smith initially admitted throwing the package but then changed his response to "no comment" during police questioning. Smith, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two counts of throwing a prohibited article into a prison at a previous hearing.
Sentencing and police response
He was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison at Hull Crown Court on Monday, August 24. Det Cons Heather Butler from Humberside Police said: "Smith made the decision to facilitate dangerous drugs entering the prison."
Butler added: "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 its intended destination. However these drugs could have had catastrophic consequences and facilitating drugs entering a prison is a criminal offence."
Butler said Humberside Police would continue to investigate all reports of drug offences and urged the public to report any suspicious behaviour on 101.
