Man who threw £12,000 of drugs into prison jailed

A man who threw £12,000 worth of drugs into a prison in Hull has been jailed.

Joshua Smith was spotted on CCTV making several failed attempts to throw a package over the wall of the prison on July 11, 2025, before eventually being successful.

It was immediately picked up by prison officers who discovered it contained drugs and a mobile phone.

The 30-year-old was identified from the CCTV footage and arrested by police.

Smith, of no fixed abode, appeared at court on Monday (Aug 24) where he was jailed for three years and eight months after admitting two counts of throwing a prohibited article into a prison.

Detective Constable Heather Butler, from Humberside Police, said: “Following the report from the prison an investigation into the contents of the package and how it arrived at the prison was launched.

“The package was analysed leading to the discovery of an estimated £12k of drugs including class A drugs and a mobile phone.

“CCTV was acquired from the outside of the prison showing a man appearing to make several unsuccessful and a final successful attempt to throw a package over the prison wall shortly before the prison officer located the package inside the prison.

“Further evidence was collated leading to the identification of Joshua Smith, he was arrested and when questioned initially indicated that he did throw the package but quickly changed the answers to questions posed to him to no comment.

“Smith made the decision to facilitate dangerous drugs entering the prison, this behaviour will not be tolerated, and we continue to work closely with HM Prison Service to ensure those who engage in this type of crime are held accountable.

“Thankfully on this occasion the package was found almost instantly and never reached it’s intended destination, however these drugs could have had catastrophic consequences and facilitating drugs entering a prison is a criminal offence.”