Two jailed for conspiring to smuggle drugs into prison

Two men who conspired to smuggle drugs into a prison have been jailed.

Casey Collins, 22, of Somerdale Avenue in Knowle, Bristol, and 31-year-old Kyle Joyner, of no fixed address, both admitted to conspiring to bring/throw/convey prohibited items into a prison and were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

Avon and Somerset Police said a package which contained 54g of cocaine, as well as other class B drugs, including spice, was left in a bin by Collins at HMP Bristol in October 2023.

Analysis of phone data later led officers to speak to Joyner about his involvement in organising the package to be brought into the prison, in which he was a serving prisoner at.

Collins was sentenced to two years and four months, plus a further 12 months to run consecutively after a previous suspended sentence was activated, while Joyner was given a three-year jail sentence to run consecutively with a prison sentence of eight years and eight months, given in 2024 for separate offences.

Judge Peter Blair KC said the consequences of prohibited items getting into prisons "hardly needs stating" with drug use having a "terrible impact" not only on those using, but also on those trying to manage prisons.

Det Ch Insp Ben Lavender, head of the serious and organised crime team, said: "The impact of offences like this can be extremely significant and puts prisoners and those who work in prisons at risk of serious harm.

"We'll continue to work with our partners in the prison service to prevent illegal drugs and other prohibited items from getting into the prison estate."

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