A YOUNG mum who was almost successful in smuggling drugs into HMP Risley has been told that she will not be heading to custody herself.

Kaiya Rainbow, from Birkenhead, visited her former partner in jail with a quantity of cannabis and tobacco tucked into the waist of her jeans.

It was only when the prisoner was spotted acting suspiciously that the operation was discovered, and Rainbow was hauled before the courts.

But the 21-year-old’s previous good character and realistic prospect of rehabilitation spared her from being sent to prison herself.

Prosecutor Catherine Ellis told Liverpool Crown Court how the defendant visited HMP Risley on August 13 last year with her three-year-old son.

She gave the prisoner, Jamie Brooks, a hug, during which he would reach into her jeans and pull out the package.

Prison officers noticed that he was behaving suspiciously after the visit, and after further investigation, he was found to be in possession of cannabis and tobacco.

Warrington Guardian:

Text messages recovered between the pair suggested that this was an operation they had ‘been thinking about for a long time’, stretching as far back as two months previous.

Messages did suggest that the defendant was ‘getting cold feet’ however, as she was asking about the possibility of sniffer dogs finding the drugs on her.

Ms Ellis said: “There should be no drugs in prison whatsoever. Cannabis is used as currency as well as for recreational purposes.”

Under police interview, Rainbow said that there had been an element of coercion, but this was not accepted by prosecutors due to the text messages.

Instead, it was their view that the defendant was ‘trying to impress a male she should not have been anywhere near’, and someone whom her family was ‘not keen on’.

In defence of Rainbow, Bernice Campbell referred to her guilty plea entered in her first appearance in crown court.

She added: “The defendant has no previous convictions and was previously of good character.

“She regrets her actions and is worried about the effect of not seeing her child and the effect of him not seeing her.

Warrington Guardian:

Liverpool Crown Court

“She hopes to start afresh, wants to improve her life and does not want to go down the custody route at such a young age.

“The probation service shows there is some way forward and is willing to work with her in terms of housing and employment, so she can become a good role model and mother.”

Ms Campbell also alluded to her client’s difficult upbringing and the loss of family members with whom she was close to.

Before handing down his sentence, Recorder Ian Unsworth said: “You did something very stupid indeed.

“What happened on August 13 last year was a low point for you, but you have tried to use your time since last year well.

“You plan to move forward with your life which could be put at risk by immediate custody, and you were dealing with someone more sophisticated than you, using you for their own selfish needs.”

Rainbow was sentenced to nine months in prison suspended for eight months and ordered to complete 150 hours unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

An order was also made for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.