A BURNLEY woman who was part of a plot to smuggle heroin into prison has been jailed for three years.

Naomi Haworth, of Admiral Street, supplied one of her friends, Michelle Ann Butler, with a package of drugs worth £9,000 during a visit to HMP Haverigg, in Cumbria, last December.

The pair were caught out when police searched Butler as she tried to visit an inmate and found the package hidden in her clothing.

Haworth, 30, claimed she did not know the package contained drugs, but was found guilty of possession with intent to supply heroin at Carlise Crown Court on Tuesday.

Butler, who pleaded guilty to a string of drugs offences, was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison in May this year.

The package also contained a substance known as spice, a synthetic version of cannabis which is difficult to trace through normal drug screening procedures.

Speaking after the sentences, Temporary Detective Superintendent Rob O’Connor, of Cumbria police said: “Cumbria police continue to work successfully with HMP Haverigg to tackle individuals who are intent on getting drugs and other items such as mobile phones into the prison.

“The two recent sentences should send a stark warning to people that if they attempt to smuggle goods into prisons, you will end up in prison yourself. This means serving a lengthy sentence, where you will have time to reflect on your wrongdoing.”

The Governor at HMP Haverigg, Tony Corcoran said: “I am grateful to the police for their interception of these drugs bound for HMP Haverigg. The sentences imposed by the judge sends out a clear and unambiguous message that this type of criminality will not be tolerated.

“I am confident that the excellent joint working between HMP Haverigg and Cumbria Constabulary will continue to go from strength to strength.”