Man tried to smuggle drugs into prison with drone

Oliver Onyeahasi was arrested after he fled the scene on foot

A man has been jailed for 40 months after using a drone to try and smuggle drugs into a prison.

Salisbury Crown Court was told police were called to HMP Erlestoke in Wiltshire in the early hours of 1 October 2023 to reports a low-flying drone was being used to deliver a package into the category C men's prison.

Oliver Onyeahasi, 26, of Aberdeen Road in Bristol, was spotted nearby and chased on foot by officers, throwing away a drone controller as he ran before being arrested.

Det Insp Steve Edwards from Wiltshire Police said this week the conviction was an "excellent example" of the force's work with the prison to combat drug supply.

The court heard when officers arrived at the scene, they saw Onyeahasi running away from them towards the main road, and chased on foot.

The drugs and the drone were intercepted by police.

Onyeahasi pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A and B drugs and two counts of being concerned in the supply of class C drugs and was sentenced on 30 September.

Det Insp Edwards said: "Our officers are dedicated to rooting out any criminal activity, including offences within the prison grounds and I am pleased the courts felt this offending was so serious that a prison sentence was given," he said.

Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, said: "Those using drones to smuggle contraband into our prisons will feel the full force of the law."