A FORMER prisoner is back behind bars after a court heard how he involved his mum and her husband in a plot to smuggle drugs and tobacco into a jail.

Kieron Harrop, of Grasmere Avenue in Orford, conspired with another prisoner – who involved his partner – to get his mum to throw a package over the walls of HMP Hindley, near Wigan.

At Preston Crown Court, David James, prosecuting, described how in summer 2018, the 22-year-old devised plans to smuggle cannabis, tobacco and a mobile phone into the prison alongside fellow inmate Mark Critchley – who has since died.

Contact was made using an illegal phone with Katherine and Martin Smith, aged 42 and 48 respectively of Wigan, with Critchley recruiting his 48-year-old partner, Colleen Banks from Leigh.

A plan was hatched for Critchley to feign illness in the hope he would be taken to Wigan Hospital, where Banks would then hide the package in the bin of a disabled toilet.

If this failed, the plan was for the Smiths to distract the prison guards and pass the package directly to Critchley.

On August 26 2018, a package containing cannabis worth £60, tobacco and a mobile phone was put together and instructions were given to the defendants.

The plan failed when Banks got cold feet due to the amount of police officers at the hospital.

She retained the package, and a second plan was hatched to throw it over the prison wall.

An isolated part of the wall was identified, and it was agreed that Katherine would walk her dogs close by before cutting a gap in the fence and throwing the package over.

Mr James said that on September 3, the package was found inside the grounds of the prison – with Harrop telling his mum 'we’ve been rumbled' and for her to expect a visit from the police.

A search of Harrop’s cell revealed the mobile phone and a SIM card.

Mr James added that Harrop had 19 previous convictions for 30 offences, with the Smiths both having no previous convictions.

Harrop’s stepfather’s involvement concerned him driving the group to the various destinations.

Banks had previously been found guilty of carrying a quantity of cannabis into the same prison.

Defending Harrop, Peter Gilmour, said he had made 'major efforts' since his release from prison a year ago.

“He is making a serious and determined effort to turn his life around,” said Mr Gilmour, who added that his client had 'serious mental health difficulties'.

Both the Smiths, Banks and Harrop pleaded guilty to conspiring to bringing contraband into prison – with Harrop also admitting possession of a mobile phone in prison.

Recorder David Temkin handed Harrop a 12-month prison sentence, with his mum and her husband receiving six-month sentences suspended for 18 months.

Banks was handed a three-month sentence suspended for 18 months.