'Nervous' artist hid drugs 'inside herself' to hand over to inmate at Teesside prison - Teesside Live

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A 50-year-old who hid drugs "inside herself" and took them into Holme House Prison was caught by guards who noticed that she looked "nervous".

Claire Dowson kept hold of the Buprenorphine - a class C drug - in her hands after she retrieved it and planned to hand it over to a prisoner during visiting hours on November 1, 2022. But guards at the Stockton prison decided to search her and the drugs were found.

Dowson was arrested and later pleaded guilty to conveying an article into prison. On Monday, she appeared at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced.

Her barrister Michelle Turner said that her client, who is an artist, was "pressured" into smuggling the drugs. "She had serious drug addictions," Ms Turner said, "she was living on borrowed time by those who coerced her into this offence".

Ms Turner told the Middlesbrough court that Dowson has taken "enormous steps to turn her life around" since the offence. Dowson sells her commissioned artwork and has a part-time job as a cook and cleaner in a pub.

"She has secured rented accommodation," Ms Turner told Judge Chris Smith, "if she is sent to prison, she will lose her home." The court heard that Dowson has sought help for her drug addiction and also attends to alcoholics anonymous.

She made a living as an artist before falling into drug addiction and Ms Turner said that she now receives housing benefit to pay her rent, but that she will "soon be independent of the state". Dowson stood in the dock with her head down, as Judge Smith told her: "This offence is a very serious one because illegal drugs inside the prison have a massive negative affect on prison discipline; to say nothing of the health risk these drugs present, when they're not prescribed.

"I am persuaded by the real progress you appear to have made. You only get one chance in my court. If you breach the order I am going to give you, you will go to prison - tenancy or no tenancy."

Dowson, of South Street in Spennymoor, was handed a four-month prison term, suspended for 18-months. She must attend 25 rehabilitation days and carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

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