A woman caught on CCTV handing over drugs to a Lancashire prisoner during a visit has been spared immediate jail.
This came despite a judge warning that people who take contraband into prisons would normally expect to be locked up.
Ashleigh Robinson, 32, of Beaumont Road, Middlesbrough, appeared at Preston Crown Court for sentence after admitting conveying a prohibited article into the prison and failing to surrender to bail.
The court heard Robinson travelled from the Teesside town to visit inmate Shaun Newton at HMP Garth, near Leyland, on October 15, 2023.
Prosecutor Olivia Gatfield said prison staff saw Robinson remove a package from beneath her clothing and place it under a packet of crisps.
Newton picked up the packet and concealed it in his sleeve, but the exchange was spotted on CCTV.
The package was later recovered and found to contain tablets of bromazolam and buprenorphine, both class C drugs.
Robinson was arrested and interviewed but made no comment.
Judge Philip Parry said the drugs had a street value of around £90 but could have been worth more than £750 inside the prison.
He said: "People who take drugs into prison, whether class A, B or C, must always expect to go to prison themselves."
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The judge said drugs, mobile phones, and other contraband undermined order within prisons, increased the risk of violence and diverted staff from their duties.
However, he raised concerns about the lengthy delay in bringing the case to court.
Robinson was arrested in October 2023 but was not charged until February this year.
Judge Parry described the delay as "inexplicable and unacceptable", noting she had appeared in court for other offences several times while waiting to be charged.
In mitigation, Eleanor Fry said Robinson was struggling with drug addiction at the time and had been pressured into carrying out the offence.
The court heard she had engaged with support programmes while on remand at HMP Styal and was making progress in addressing her substance misuse issues.
Judge Parry said he was impressed by the efforts she had made in custody and believed now was the best opportunity for rehabilitation.
Robinson was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months. She must complete a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and up to 20 rehabilitation days.
She also received a concurrent one-month sentence for failing to surrender to bail.
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