A woman who twice flew to Hong Kong to tend her dying father tried to raise £250 by smuggling cannabis and tobacco into Britain's biggest jail.

Ying Ping Lam, 39, of Alder Close, Ashton under Lyne, Greater Manchester, had also been hit by a £3,300 tax bill for overpaid benefits, a court heard when she was jailed for 22 weeks.

Judge Timothy Petts told her at Caernarfon crown court that taking banned items such as drugs into prison, where they could be sold at inflated prices, undermined the rule of law.

Lam pleaded guilty to supplying cannabis, possessing drugs with intent to supply, and taking a banned substance - tobacco - into the giant Berwyn Prison at Wrexham.

Richard Edwards, prosecuting, said it happened in January this year, and she had visited the jail a week earlier to get to know the prisoner, Philip Foster.

A prison officer had noticed Foster put his hand down her trousers and was caught with 10.3 grammes of tobacco and 15.7 grammes of cannabis.

When searched at a police station Lam was found to have another 21.8 grammes of cannabis hidden away.

Mr Edwards said the drugs and tobacco could fetch as much as £4,500 in prison, where they sold for inflated amounts. "It could result in assaults, bullying and fear," he added, "diminishing the security, welfare and safety of prisoners and staff."

He revealed that in 2004 and 2006 as Lam had been convicted of possessing drugs with intent to supply.

Mark Connor, defending, said she was ashamed of herself after 14 years since her last conviction. Lam, a chef in a family business who had a daughter at university had significant cash problems. "To make £250 she realises this was a serious error of judgement," he declared.

Judge Petts said for such offences only immediate custody was appropriate.