A woman has been fined more than £1,000 after a “rub-down search” caught her trying to smuggle a SIM card into an Inverness prison while visiting her boyfriend.
Kirsty Balcezak, 33, was subjected to a “rub-down search” as she entered HMP Inverness, commonly known as Porterfield, on March 2.
But staff became suspicious when she failed to fully raise her arms. As she was made to do so, the SIM card fell to the floor.
Balcezak, of Blackmuir Cottages, Keith, pled guilty to a single charge of bringing, introducing or attempting to introduce a prohibited article into a prison at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Fiscal depute Pauline Gair told the court that Balcezak had been going to the prison to visit her partner, who was remanded at the time.
Search uncovered attempt to smuggle SIM
She said: “She attended at HMP Porterfield for a visit. She went through the security process and thereafter was subject to a rub-down search.
“The accused was asked to lift her arms up,” Mrs Gair told the court, adding that the woman had initially hesitated to co-operate and had to be persuaded to by staff.
At this point, a “small white wrap fell from the accused’s left-hand side”.
The item was investigated and found to be “a SIM card wrapped in tissue”. Police were contacted and Balcezak was arrested.
Prisoners put pressure on partner
Solicitor Cecily Kingston, for Balcezak, told the court that her client had been persuaded to smuggle in the item to help her partner who was being pressured by other prisoners.
She said: “She understood her partner was under some pressure from other inmates whilst in prison, she was put under pressure to bring the SIM card into prison.”
Ms Kingston added that the mother-of-two was “remorseful” about her actions.
Considering sentencing options, Sheriff Gary Aitken said there was good reason why a “dim view” was taken of smuggling things into prison, pointing out that SIM cards are generally required on the inside “for the purpose of carrying on organised criminal activity”.
He told Balcezak: “You should be under no illusions that this is a very serious matter. With your record, a jail sentence would be entirely appropriate.”
Mentioning the potential impact on her children, however, Sheriff Aitken instead imposed a fine totalling £1,040.
He said: “I trust that if you find yourself in a similar situation in future you will tell the police rather than cave to the pressure of those who have sought to exploit you.”
