Home   Sheerness   News   Article

Mum smuggled drugs into prison for jailbird husband

A mum-of-three risked joining her husband in prison after being caught smuggling cannabis to him.

Danielle Henry stashed the drugs in a container inside her bra when she visited HMP Swaleside in December last year.

Cannabis was smuggled in Mrs Henry's bra. Stock picture
Cannabis was smuggled in Mrs Henry's bra. Stock picture

Maidstone Crown Court heard that the 34-year-old from Barking, London, was there to see mechanic husband Tony Henry who is serving a 20-year stretch for attempted murder after stabbing a man in a daylight attack in a busy street.

Now Mrs Henry has avoided an immediate jail sentence in what the judge called was "a very close run thing".

But she left court to return to her children with a flea in her ear after Judge Stephen Thomas told her: "I have had in mind the effect on your children, which is more than you have done."

Prosecutor Wright said she had gone to the Isle of Sheppey prison to visit her husband.

"She was in the visiting room sitting opposite him when one of the prison officers was observing them both on CCTV.

Tony Henry is serving time at HMP Swaleside. Picture: Chris Davey
Tony Henry is serving time at HMP Swaleside. Picture: Chris Davey

"She was seen to be looking around and turning her head and then seen to lean closer before moving her hand to the top of her jumper.

"Mrs Henry was then to remove an item from the top of her jumper, an item taken from her bra. She passed the item to her husband, " he added.

Other staff members stopped Henry and discovered five wraps inside a tube containing 113 grams of cannabis.

David Patience, defending, said Henry was subjected to a "degree of emotional pressure" to bring drugs to her husband.

He said that Henry was "still controlling" the defendant and had subjected her to domestic violence during their relationship.

In 2015 Henry was jailed and she took jobs as a cleaner in a community hospital.

"She has written a letter to the court expressing her remorse as she realises she has put her three children in jeopardy of being left without either of their parents."

Mr Patience said she had explained the situation to the children and said goodbye to them before setting off for court.

The judge, in suspending a six-month jail sentence for 18 months, told her: "Smuggling drugs into prison can have a bad effect on discipline inside.

"While it can be said you were under an element of pressure to do what you did, you could have resisted. For your children not to have either parent with them is the worst kind of upbringing... but you brought all that on yourself."

Henry, who admitted smuggling drugs into prison, was also ordered to do 150 hours on unpaid work for the community.

ng out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More