Inmate used garden work to smuggle drugs into jail

Scott Carbutt has been given an additional sentence of five years and four months

An inmate who had been given special privileges to work in the garden at the entrance of the Isle of Man Prison smuggled drugs and two SIM Cards into the jail.

Scott Carbutt, 42, was randomly searched as he returned to the facility in Jurby on 8 May and officers found a jumper scrunched in the corner of his holding cell containing MDMA, cocaine and ketamine.

Deemster Graeme Cook said it was an "abuse of trust" and he sentenced Carbutt to an additional five years and four months.

Carbutt had been serving a seven-year sentence which was handed down to him in April 2023 for possession of heroin, money laundering, possession of an offensive weapon and wounding with intent.

Douglas Courthouse heard that the jumper had concealed 26g of MDMA, 3g of cocaine and 14g of ketamine.

When the 42-year-old was asked what it was, he said it was cocaine, ketamine and MDMA, which "all belongs to me", and added: "I'm looking at ten years or more for this."

Carbutt pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply of MDMA, cocaine and ketamine and possession of a prohibited articles in an institution.

His defence advocate said Carbutt had been addicted to drugs for a "significant period of time" and when he "came across" them he "lapsed" and had used some of the drugs himself before going back into the prison.

Sentencing him, Deemster Cook said: "There must have been some planning involved and it seems you knew what you were looking for by your response to prison officers."

Aggravating factors included that the offences took place in a custodial environment, which could cause harm to prison officers and other inmates, and it was an "abuse of trust" given to him, he said.

"I am afraid you will be in prison for quite a few more years."