A PRISONER has been jailed after being found guilty of possessing a mobile phone while an inmate at HMP Berwyn.

James Birchall, 33, denied possessing the iPhone 8 device in December of last year but was convicted by a jury at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday.

The court heard that a parole hearing in which he hoped to be released from a ten year sentence would now be put on hold.

A jury heard how the phone was found in the seal of a cell door and Birchall denied knowing anything about it. He said another prisoner had since told him that he had put it there.

Birchall said that he had left that prisoner in his cell and that he had hidden the phone in the frame of the door during his absence. It was found behind a seal and toothpaste had been placed on top of it.

Another prisoner, Matthew Bannell, gave evidence and claimed he had placed the phone in the hiding place but he denied using toothpaste and said he had placed it in a random cell which was unoccupied and that he had not spoken to the defendant about it and did not know him.

The jury convicted Birchall after a short retirement and he was jailed for 15 months.

Judge Niclas Parry said that it must be understood that mobile phones was one of the main reasons for indiscipline in prison.

He said: “They give unfettered and unsupervised access to the outside world.”

Judge Parry added how there needed to be an element of deterrence in any sentence.

Defending barrister Jonathan Austin said after the conviction that it would have a bearing on an imminent parole board hearing which could have led to his client’s release after ten years.

He added: “Clearly that would now be put on hold.”