A mother-of-two who supplied paper soaked in designer drugs to her incarcerated boyfriend at HMP Perth has avoided being locked up.
Hayley Watson is thought to have used a child to pass the cannabis-laced sheet to prisoner Kevin Hogg.
The 36-year-old denied allegations she was concerned in the supply of a class B synthetic cannabinoid compound, listed on court papers as “ADB-4EN-PINACA”.
But she was convicted following a two-day trial at Perth Sheriff Court.
After background reports were completed, Watson was given a community payback order to last nine months.
After viewing CCTV of the apparent exchange, Sheriff William Wood told her there was no other “plausible or credible” way Mr Hogg could have received the illicit substance.
He said it was inconceivable Mr Hogg was handed the paper by someone inside the jail, before visiting time.
“If that was so, it would be the first time efforts were made to smuggle drugs out of a prison,” he said.
Mitigation
Watson’s solicitor told the court: “She is 36 years of age and a first offender.
“She enjoys the support of her family, particularly her mother who is here today. She has two young daughters.”
He added: “She was in a relationship with Mr Hogg.
“It’s clear from the report that there are concerns with the relationship.
“The phrase used is coercive control.”
He said: “She accepts your Lordship’s decision in relation to guilt.
“It is accepted on her behalf that this is a particularly serious matter, bringing any prohibited article into a prison passing it to a prisoner, let alone controlled drugs.
“It’s accepted that the custody threshold is met.”
Watson, from Hazel Road in Cumbernauld, was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work in the next nine months.
She will be supervised during this time.
Sheriff Wood said: “Ms Watson, I heard this matter over a couple of days.
“I note that you still deny any wrongdoing.
“The evidence became overwhelming.
“This is a serious matter that could justify a prison sentence.
“However, it was a Class B drug, it wasn’t a huge quantity and you appear before the court as a first offender at 36.
“It’s to be hoped we won’t see you back in any court.”
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