SEVEN months have been added to the sentence of a serving prisoner who helped smuggle two mobile phones into HMP Berwyn in Wrexham.

A judge told Donald Campbell that illicit phones undermined practically everything a prison was trying to do.

Judge Rowlands said the offence occurred in October of last year when he was “caught red-handed”.

Mold Crown Court was told Campbell, 49, was serving an eight year and eight month prison sentence for conspiracy to supply drugs – a sentence imposed at Liverpool Crown Court in December 2016.

Barrister Paulinus Barnes, prosecuting, said a prisoner officer became suspicious during a visit that a woman who was due to meet Campbell did not seem to know or recognise him.

The visit only lasted a very short time and Campbell was searched as he left.

In his underpants was a package with contained two mobile phones wrapped in cling film.

Interviewed Campbell, originally from Scotland, said he was serving his sentence in Wales which was a long way from his family.

He was struggling to get employment in the prison and had financial problems.

Another inmate suggested that he “take a visit” – to receive a visit from someone he did not know and accept a package – for which he would be paid £200.

He said he was unaware that the package also contained a small number of tablets and that had been accepted by the prosecution and he had not been charged in relation to them.

The court was told all inmates had access to prison issue phones which were monitored for security purposes.

Illicit phones could be used in criminal activity, to intimidate people and to organise drug supplies into prison.

They thwarted attempts to ensure the prison was a safe environment.

Henry Hills, defending, said his client's his life had since changed significantly since the offence and he now had a job as a supervisor in the DVD exchange shop, for which he was paid £28 a week.

He was already serving a very substantial sentence.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said Campbell had admitted an offence under the Prison Act which involved mobile phones being taken into the prison.

There was no legitimate reason for prisoners to have illicit mobile phones, he said, adding it contravened the law and prison rules.

They caused major problems in prisons and undermined practically everything that prisons were trying to achieve.

But the judge added he could not understand why it took until May for Campbell to be interviewed about the matter, which was wrong.