Woman Jailed for Sneaking £Thousands of Cannabis into Surrey Prison
Whitney Thornton Caught Red-Handed at HMP Coldingley
Whitney Thornton, 22, from Nottingham, has landed behind bars after trying to smuggle cannabis into HMP Coldingley in Bisley. The young woman stuffed 48.6 grams of the drug inside her bra during a prison visit on April 27, 2018.
Her plan was foiled when prison staff discovered the stash during a routine search. The seized cannabis, worth thousands if sold inside, never made it past security.
Two Sentences Add Up to 18 Months in Jail
At Guildford Crown Court on July 5, Thornton pleaded guilty to conveying drugs into the prison. She was sentenced to eight months behind bars. On top of this, she received a 10-month sentence for breaching previous orders, meaning she faces a total of 18 months in jail.
Prison Officials Slam Drug Smuggling Attempt
Inspector Bob Darkens, Surrey Heath’s Borough Commander, said: “HMP Coldingley is a category C prison focusing on rehabilitation and keeping prisoners drug-free. Over half of people entering prison have drug problems and many want to kick their addictions while inside.”
“The sentence handed to Thornton sends a strong message: smuggling drugs into prisons won’t be tolerated and will be dealt with firmly.”
Niall Bryant, Deputy Governor at HMP Coldingley, added: “Drugs are not welcome here. We’re tightening security to prevent this.” He praised staff for their dedication in stopping crime and keeping the prison safe.
Crackdown on Prison Drug Trade Continues
With drugs contributing to crime and chaos inside prisons, authorities vow to stay vigilant. Smugglers beware – your time is up.
