Dad caught with cocaine on Notts prison visit

Richard Anderson was entering HMP Lowdham on October 16, 2018, when 0.1 grams of the Class A drug in a plastic bag were found in his pocket during a search.

"He immediately tried to grab it from the officer," said prosecutor Lauren Butts.

"He said he had borrowed the trousers from his other son and denied all knowledge of it being there."

The court heard Anderson was visiting another son at the time.

He has 17 previous convictions, including theft, public order and weapons offences, between 1994 and 2013.

He received a six year prison sentence, extended by four years, in 2013 for two counts of assault, making threats to kill and permitting the supply of a Class B drug.

Chris Brewin, mitigating, said Anderson, who appeared via video-link from HMP Oakwood, was recalled to prison in July this year, and will not be released until June 2022.

"It was a very tiny quantity and he apologises to the court," Mr Brewin said. "He has made good use of his time. He has done an anger management course.

"He suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and bi-polar disorder. He is going to work his way through his time."

Anderson, 44, of Westminster Road, Coventry, pleaded guilty to attempting to convey a prohibited List A article into prison, when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court, on Thursday.

Judge Julie Warburton sentenced him to 36 months in prison, starting today.