Husband ordered wife to smuggle drugs into Highpoint Prison
A woman with a history of suffering domestic violence and sexual abuse tried to smuggle drugs into Highpoint Prison on the orders of her husband, a court has heard.
Sadie Charter was caught when staff at the jail spotted her attempting to hand over two small packages of cannabis to a serving prisoner on June 16 last year.
Last week at Ipswich Crown Court, Charter was given a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to bringing a prohibited article into a restricted area. She also admitted being in possession of a small quantity of cocaine for her own use.
Prosecutor Robert Sadd said Charter, 28, of Norbury Crescent, Norbury, had no previous convictions and the smuggling attempt had been unsophisticated.
A psychiatric report said that Charter was suggestible, had been the victim of domestic violence involving partners as well as sexual abuse, said Mr Sadd.
Defending, Jodie-Jane Hitchcock said that Charter had been acting on the instructions of her husband and made no financial gain.
Miss Hitchcock said: “She is someone who has had something of a bleak life.” Charter had,in addition to abuse, suffered from ill health and dependancy on illegal substances. She now wanted to address her problems and had reduced her drug intake and stopped drinking alcohol.
Sentencing her, Mr Recorder John Coffey QC said he had considered a pre sentence report prepared by the Probation Service about Charter as well as a psychiatric report.
Mr Recorder Coffey said: “It is rare indeed that the court comes across a pre sentence report which sets out with such clarity exact details of the trials and tribulations you have faced through your life.”
Charter was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months with conditions that she will be under Probation Service supervision, take part in a programme designed to assist women offenders as well as a drug rehabilitation scheme.
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Saturday 25 May 2013
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