A MUM who attempted to smuggle drugs into a North Wales prison has been jailed after breaching her suspended sentence.

Donna Coxen, 46, of Maes Y Goron in Denbigh, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to convey prohibited items into a prison at Mold Crown Court on September 3, 2020.

That came after she was caught trying to sneak cannabis into HMP Berwyn prison in Wrexham on May 22, 2019.

As a result, Coxen was given a six-month sentence, suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work, as well as undergo rehabilitation sessions.

Today (Friday, August 12) Coxen appeared at Mold Crown Court again having breached the conditions of that initial order imposed upon her in 2020.

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Maria Masselis prosecuting told the court that, on May 22, 2019, Coxen had gone to visit her son at HMP Berwyn prison. 

Upon her arrival, a drugs dog named Merlin had alerted officers to her and one of the officers could see 'a package' protruding from the defendant's trousers.

That was found to be a 'sausage-shaped' package containing 45g of green herbal cannabis, which she at first claimed was tobacco.

She later admitted to attempting to smuggle the package into the prison when questioned at Llay Police Station and said she felt 'very stupid'.

The Leader:

PIC: Coxen was jailed at Mold Crown Court.

Ms Masselis told the court that 'little progress' had been made on the order imposed on Coxen in 2020, despite the 'very best attempts' of the probation service to support her.

It was said that Coxen - who suffers from physical and mental health difficulties - had attended 38 of 98 appointments set up with the probation service.

Ten out of 22 of the unpaid work hours had been completed by Coxen and it was said that there was now 'insufficient time available' on the order for her to complete the remaining hours.

The court was also told that the defendant was 'not motivated' and had failed to attend unpaid work sessions and that the order was now 'unworkable'.

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Simon Killeen, defending Coxen, said that imposing a jail sentence upon her would be 'unjust'.

He added: "Mental health issues are not choices we make, they are something we suffer from."

He added that, to complete 38 appointments as Coxen did with her difficulties, is an 'effort'.

Judge Nicola Saffman said that 'although the pandemic had some part to play', Coxen had 'come to the end of the road' having also breached an order previously in 2020.

She sentenced Coxen to three months in prison, reducing it from six months due to the unpaid work hours she had completed.

Judge Saffman closed by saying: "Do not be crushed by this sentence, you will come out with a clean slate. I have no doubt that we will not see you before the court again."