Jail Visitor Had Banned Goods

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday April 19, 2006

GR

A WOMAN had two mobile phones and a cigarette lighter in her possession while visiting a Cessnock Jail inmate, Newcastle Local Court was told yesterday.

It heard that prison officers found the property on Diane Julie Stewart after hearing an electronic sound come from inside the visitors' area.

Stewart later told arresting police that she had forgotten about the phones in the back pockets of her skirt.

"They just sort of became part of me," she said.

Constable Dana Kensall said the cigarette lighter fell from her brassiere onto the floor when police searched her on January 22.

Stewart, 51, unemployed, of Light Street, Bar Beach, pleaded guilty to three counts of having brought the goods into the jail.

Constable Kensall said in a statement that on entering the jail Stewart passed two large signs depicting banned items.

She had then been given a form reminding her that mobile phones and cigarette lighters were not permitted.

Magistrate Michael Morahan adjourned the charges for sentence on June 13.

© 2006 Newcastle Herald

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