Woman jailed for smuggling cocaine into prison through a kiss

Abigail George admitted four offences

A woman who tried to smuggle drugs into a prison through a kiss has been jailed for just over three years.

Abigail George, 38, was seen passing a packet of cocaine mouth-to-mouth to a serving inmate at HMP Northumberland, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The former care worker also stole £555 from an elderly woman after she pretended to be a chiropodist to gain entry to the victim's home.

George, of South Frederick Street in South Shields, admitted four offences.

She was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

The court heard George, who worked as a senior carer at a dementia unit, became addicted to drugs after starting a relationship with a man who was later jailed.

Judge Gittins said she was the subject of domestic abuse and coercion and, as a result of the relationship, had "fallen" from having a "respected and difficult profession" into criminality to fund her heroin addiction.

'Really upset'

In April 2021, George entered the sheltered accommodation home of an elderly woman telling her she was a chiropodist, prosecutor Helen Towns said.

She spent half an hour with the woman, talking to her and looking at her feet, Ms Towns said.

But after George left, the elderly woman, who has since died, found her purse containing bank cards and £555 in cash had been stolen.

She called her bank who told her the card had been used in a shop to buy goods worth £22.75, the court heard.

In a statement, the woman said she was "really upset" and felt "stupid", adding the loss of the money had hit her hard financially.

'Embarrassment'

In December 2021, George visited her boyfriend in HMP Northumberland.

She was seen by guards removing a face mask and placing an object in her mouth.

The court heard George then kissed her boyfriend who coughed and dropped an item onto the table, which was then concealed in his trousers.

He was searched and a packet of cocaine was found.

The judge said George was being coerced and exploited by her partner at the time and stood to gain nothing financially, but it was a "serious offence".

Defending, Katie Spence said George felt "embarrassment" and "shame" and was now drug free.

George admitted burglary, fraud, conveying drugs into prison and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.