June 16, 2017 11.21 am This story is over 80 months old

Grantham woman faces jail for smuggling drugs into prison for her partner

A Grantham woman faces jail after she admitted smuggling over 40 grams of synthetic cannabis in to Lincoln prison. Nicola Dowell, 41, also pleaded guilty to a charge of assault after she became angry while being searched at the Greetwell Road jail. Lincoln Crown Court heard Dowell admitted a charge of conveying 43.74 grams of…

A Grantham woman faces jail after she admitted smuggling over 40 grams of synthetic cannabis in to Lincoln prison.

Nicola Dowell, 41, also pleaded guilty to a charge of assault after she became angry while being searched at the Greetwell Road jail.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Dowell admitted a charge of conveying 43.74 grams of synthetic cannabis in to the prison on 10 January, this year.

Dowell, of Castlegate, Grantham, also pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating on the same date.

Mark Watson, defending, asked for sentence to be adjourned so the circumstances of why Dowell was taking the drugs in for her partner could be investigated.

Mr Watson told the court: “There is a background to this, it is not a case of her making money from it.

“She has her own vulnerabilities, as does the man she was taking this in for, her partner.

“He was being subjected to various beatings at the time she was trying to take items in.

“She had also had communications, she does not know who from.

“There had been pressure on her from the outside, and pressure on him inside.”

Mr Watson also asked for medical evidence to be prepared on Dowell.

He added: “Not long ago she was hospitalised due to pneumonia and clearly she has health difficulties.

“Her father has terminal cancer also.”

Judge John Pini QC granted Dowell bail until she is sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on 10 July.

But the judge warned Dowell to be under no illusions that she faced prison.

Judge Pini told her: “On any view you were taking over 40 grams of cannabis in to prison.

“It causes chaos for prison staff.”