A WOMAN was caught trying to sneak £400 worth of heroin to her brother at Barlinnie.

Natalie Paita concealed the Class A drug within a condom on March 15, 2019, whilst visiting her relative in the Glasgow prison.

The 32-year-old appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court after previously pleading guilty to the crime.

The prosecutor said: “At 7pm the accused entered Barlinnie in order to visit her brother who was in prison.

“During the course of the visit, she was observed by a witness to be sitting with her right hand closed off and was looking around the visitor room.

“The witness informed staff, who requested the accused to open her right hand. She was discovered to be in possession of an unknown substance concealed within a condom.

“This was seized from the accused, and she was thereafter escorted to a room where she was detained until police arrived. She was thereafter cautioned and charged.”

On Thursday, the court heard that it was 10g worth of heroin that was seized, with an approximate street value of £400.

Glasgow Times:

Paita, of Royston, has one previous conviction and one matter outstanding.

Her defence solicitor said: “She has distanced herself from her brothers, especially the one she was taking the drugs to in prison.

“She has a good character so this may be a one off. She has had no involvement with drug use throughout her life, at all. It is very unusual that she comes to the attention of the authorities.

“She may meet the custody threshold, however, there could be a direct alternative to prison imposed in this case.

“She is not fit for unpaid work at the moment due to medical reasons but will be in the future.”

Sheriff Mary Shields told Paita: “I believe the most appropriate way to deal with this matter is a community payback order.

“You will be required to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work within the community.”

She was also ordered to stay within her home address between 7pm and 7am for four weeks.