AN "EXPERIENCED criminal" who tried to smuggle drugs and a phone into prison by disguising them as chocolate has been put behind bars.

Kieron Pemberton, of Ormsby Close in Standish, near Wigan, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Monday morning for sentence.

The 39-year-old had previously admitted three offences relating to conveying prohibited items into HMP Berwyn.

Catherine Elvin, prosecuting, told the court that on December 3, 2022, Pemberton arrived at the Wrexham prison to visit an inmate.

When passing through security, an officer formed the suspicion that the defendant was concealing something in his crotch area.

He was allowed to pass but officers in the visiting hall were alerted and monitored the defendant closely.

An item was spotted falling from his trousers, following which he kicked it towards the inmate he was there to visit.

When an officer approached and moved the table, Pemberton "feigned surprise" as what appeared to be a "double decker chocolate bar" was recovered.

RECOMMENDED READING

He was escorted away and when the item was opened in front of him, it was found to contain "white powder."

Further checks saw staff finding another "lookalike" chocolate bar containing a mobile phone and five sim cards.

A drugs expert confirmed the first 'double decker' had contained ketamine worth more than £7,500, as well as almost £10,000 worth of cocaine - those figures being their estimated values in a prison setting.

The phone would have been worth £200 to £300 in jail and each sim would be worth £50.

Pemberton had 22 previous convictions for 47 offences, Ms Elvin added.

Anthony O'Donohoe, defending, told the court: "The defendant is highly realistic; he knows his fate today and has come to court with a packed bag.

The Leader: Kieron Pemberton (NWP)Kieron Pemberton (NWP) (Image: North Wales Police)"He is annoyed with himself - and rightly so.

"Mr Pemberton has been making progress in life.

"He has a bad record but in recent times he has refrained from offending and now has a stable family life.

"He has achieved his ambition of getting onto a rail engineering technician course and had been doing well, so all the building blocks of a law-abiding life were slowly being put in place.

"But what's beset him all through his adult life is poor decision making and poor consequential thinking skills.

"In his mind, he thought he was just helping a friend who had asked for that help."

Judge Niclas Parry told the defendant: "You know the score - you're an experienced criminal.

The Leader:

"And you know the impact drugs and mobiles have in prison.

"They're the cause of ill-discipline, bullying and intimidation."

Whilst acknowledging the fact Pemberton had begun to make something of his life, Judge Parry handed down a custodial sentence of 16 months.

The sentence could not be suspended, due to the seriousness of the offence, the Judge said.