A man and a woman have been jailed after an investigation into a plot to smuggle drugs into a prison.

Farrah Jones, 28, worked for an agency at HMP Forest Bank where she was found to have been trying to smuggle ketamine and cannabis into the toilets.

After a further police investigation Jones was found in a car alongside 30-year-old Steven Wimbleton with drugs, drug paraphernalia and a pistol.

Detective Constable Steven Walker, from GMP’s Salford district, said: “Attempting to bring drugs into a prison is a grave offence and carries so many issues, from enabling criminals to flourish when they should be being punished to ruining the lives of those suffering with addictions.

“While drugs cause their own issues, a firearm is an incredibly deadly weapon and can cause untold hurt and misery when in the wrong hands.

A pistol was discoveredA pistol was discovered (Image: GMP)

“I am glad we were able to get both an illegal weapon and numerous drugs off the streets of Salford.”

Jones, of Spa Cresent, Little Hulton, was first spotted leaving the toilers at HMP Forest Bank on Thursday November 30 at around 1.30pm.

The bathroom was searched where staff found two packages containing ketamine and cannabis.

Just hours later, two police officers on patrol in Little Hulton smelled cannabis coming from a nearby parked car.

The drugs have been seizedThe drugs have been seized (Image: GMP)

On approaching the car they saw Jones and Wimbleton, of Shellington Close, Little Hulton sat inside.

Officers searched the pair and inside the car found a combination of tablets, cannabis resin, mobile phones, and syringes.

Many of these syringes were wrapped in vacuum or cellophane packaging.

Police officers also found a lock-knife and bag of white powder and arrested the pair.

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A further search uncovered a pistol, which had a round of ammunition in the chamber, while further house searches uncovered more drugs paraphernalia and thousands in cash.

Brought before Manchester Crown Court, Jones pleaded guilty to conveying a list A and list B article into prison, conspiracy to convey list A and list B article into prison, possession of a knife and possession of criminal property.

Wimbleton confessed to possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of class B drugs.

Brought back before the court this week Jones was jailed for four years and Wimbleton for five.