A FAILED attempt to bring drugs into prison using a crisp packet cost a man his freedom at Alloa Sheriff Court last week.

Jamie Mullen admitted being concerned in the supply of the class C drug alprazolam during an appearance at the court on Thursday, November 19.

Prosecutor Susannah Hutchison said the incident occurred on January 22 this year, when 40-year-old Mullen was visiting someone at HMP Glenochil.

He was observed to be "behaving suspiciously" by reaching into his jacket pocket and leaving his hand there "for a while".

Prison officers then saw him take his hand out and place something into a crisp packet.

Mullen was detained and a black bag of white tablets was seized from the packet.

The bag was found to contain 16 whole tablets and fragments equivalent to a further 14.5 tablets – all of which contained alprazolam.

Mullen was also due to be sentenced for being in possession of a mobile phone without lawful authority during his own stay at HMP Glenochil on September 13 last year.

In mitigation, solicitor Kelly Howe said the drug incident came about because her client had racked up debts and believed he had no choice but to attempt to supply the pills.

Ms Howe added the mobile phone incident came about because he was trying to contact a relative during a difficult period.

Sheriff Craig Harris said Mullen, currently a prisoner at HMP Perth, required to be "punished severely".

He then imposed a custodial sentence of 16 months.