A former prison officer has been jailed for six years after trying to take “large amounts” of drugs into HMP Parc in orange juice cartons.

Jodie Beer, who was employed by the prison in South Wales at the time, was walking to her vehicle in the car park while on a break when she was stopped by police officers in February 2022.

During a search, officers found a plastic bag on the front passenger seat which contained large orange juice cartons.

The cartons were found to contain class A and class C drugs as well as mobile phones and SIM cards.

The 30-year-old, from Llanharry, Rhondda Cynon Taf, initially claimed someone had planted the cartons there.

Officers also seized a zip lock bag containing light brown powder and tubes of white tablets from the centre console of her car.

Her home was also searched and officers seized £4,000 in cash. Police made an application for it be confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

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Beer was arrested and said during a police interview that she was asked by a HMP Parc inmate to take the drugs into the prison.

She added she was told she would be paid £5,000 to do so.

Beer said she later met a supplier in a layby where she took possession of the drugs, including the orange juice cartons that had been pre-packed, as well as an amount of cash.

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She pleaded guilty to possession of concealed drugs, possession with intent to supply and possession of class A and class C drugs at Cardiff Crown Court on 3 June.

Beer also pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office.

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The former prison officer was sentenced to six years in prison at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday.

Sarah Ingram from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “What Beer did in arranging to take large amounts of controlled drugs into the prison where she worked was a gross breach of trust.

“The drugs had been prepped to take into the prison and were clearly for onward supply. As a prison officer she was in a position of responsibility and her behaviour fell far below the standards that are expected.

“The CPS continues to work closely with our law enforcement colleagues, in this case the Southern Wales Regional Organised Crime Unit, in the prosecution of offences such as this. We have now begun steps to confiscate the proceeds of this crime.”

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