Mum caught on CCTV throwing tennis balls full of drugs into Forest Bank prison

A mum was caught on CCTV throwing tennis balls containing drugs and lollipops into Forest Bank prison. Amanda Baker, 36, was spotted by staff days earlier throwing other packages over the wall into the exercise yard.

The packages contained cannabis, tobacco, cigarette papers and sweets. When she was finally stopped in July 2020 by prison officers she tried to walk away, but began to cry and claimed her ex-partner, Kasim Ahmed, who was serving five years in HMP Forest Bank, had forced her to do it.

She pleaded guilty to offences of bringing list A and B articles into prison, and was today (July 15) jailed for 16 months.

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Philip Hall, prosecuting, told Manchester Crown Court that on June 24 2020, Baker was seen approaching the perimeter wall before throwing four to five parcels into the exercise yard. Within the parcels were socks, as well as 45 grams of cannabis with an estimated value of £4,500.

“There were also two small mobile phones, a smart phone, two SIM cards and a charging cable. The parcels also contained prohibited items including tobacco, cigarette papers, sweets and chocolate,” Mr Hall said.

She left the scene before she was able to be identified. The next day, June 26, she returned and was caught on CCTV throwing further packages over the wall. They contained cannabis, tobacco and cigarette papers.

Then on July 4, she came back for the third time where she threw 10 tennis balls over the wall with a dog ball thrower. “The tennis balls had been cut up and stuffed with items including 16.7 grams of cannabis, tobacco and lollipops,” Mr Hall added.

Officers searched her car, which was parked in the