Katie Carter was caught sneaking cannabis into HMP Altcourse just weeks after avoiding jail herself
A pregnant mum who smuggled drugs into jail for her boyfriend has been locked up — just days after being given a suspended sentence for drug dealing.
Katie Carter, 30, from Handforth, Cheshire, had been spared prison on April 4, 2023, for two class A drug offences, while her partner Paul Cordingley was jailed.
But less than three weeks later, Carter visited him at HMP Altcourse — hiding nearly 100g of cannabis resin inside a pair of Nike trainers she brought in for him to wear.
Drugs found in hollowed-out soles
Prison officers grew suspicious after scanning the shoes and spotting something odd inside the soles. A total of 96.1g of cannabis resin was found — worth up to £1,400 behind bars.
Carter initially claimed she “knew nothing” about the drugs, but jurors didn’t believe her. She was convicted of conveying a banned item into prison.
‘Acting in his thrall’
Prosecutors said Carter was “in the thrall” of Cordingley, who was described as the driving force behind both cases. Her defence said she had since ended the relationship and had been working with social services to care for her young son.
She was also said to be “of previous good character” and had performed well on her community sentence.
Judge: prison is ‘sad but necessary’
Judge Stuart Driver KC told her: “You now have a one-year-old child. Fortunately, your parents can help care for him. But I cannot suspend the sentence in this case.”
Carter was jailed for 12 months.
