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Verne prisoner 'decorated cannabis plant as Christmas tree' (From Dorset Echo)
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Verne prisoner 'decorated cannabis plant as Christmas tree'
8:10am Wednesday 9th December 2009
PRISONERS on Portland have been growing cannabis and building matchstick models to hide items inside, it has been confirmed.
It was claimed that a convicted drug dealer at the Verne prison grew a four-foot plant of the class B drug and passed it off for months as a tomato plant before decorating it as a Christmas tree.
Other allegations claimed that inmates have made matchstick models intending to hide phones inside.
A spokesman for the prison service has confirmed officers have confiscated both items.
Of the matchstick models he said: “Vigilant prison officers at HMP The Verne found two boxes with hidden compartments during a routine cell search.
“They were subsequently removed. This is not a new practice.”
On the discovery of an alleged cannabis plant he said: “Prison officers identified a plant in a cell which they believed to be cannabis. The plant was sent for testing.
“Our comprehensive security measures include: searching cells, using search dogs and mandatory drug testing of prisoners.
“We take the problem of drugs in prisons very seriously and do everything possible to disrupt their demand and supply.”
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Your Say YourEcho
Duckorange, Wyke Regis says...
9:50am Wed 9 Dec 09
Happy prisoners, learning the error of their ways after a life on the wrong side of the tracks, learning useful life skills, sitting round their home-grown Christmas tree, munching on tomatoes, smoking the fruit of their labours whilst chatting to their loved ones on mobile phones lovingly crafted from matchsticks.
It's enough to make a grown man weep.
popup, portland says...
10:49am Wed 9 Dec 09
pd7, Dorset says...
11:13am Wed 9 Dec 09
bluecat, Weymouth says...
11:19am Wed 9 Dec 09
That cannabis plant grew undetected for four months in the confined space of a prison cell. They are easily identified by appearance and smell.
simonthomas, Paignton says...
12:03pm Wed 9 Dec 09
Jenny466, Weymouth says...
12:27pm Wed 9 Dec 09
Sideshow Bob, Weymouth says...
1:26pm Wed 9 Dec 09
All three of which obviously failed, not very comprehensive is it?
A search dog is not much use if it can't find a four foot pot plant stood in the corner of a small concrete room!
Also, I hope that the prisoner was dragged up in front of the judge to have some more time added to his sentence for possesion of a controlled drug? - No didn't think so............
praha, weymouth says...
1:26pm Wed 9 Dec 09
simonthomas, Paignton says...
3:53pm Wed 9 Dec 09
Get a grip, weymouth says...
6:16pm Wed 9 Dec 09
Security word drug-hope
EUFC, Portland says...
8:36pm Wed 9 Dec 09
Anyone smell a rat? POA?
weymouthfox, Weymouth says...
1:16pm Thu 10 Dec 09
portlandresident, Portland says...
1:43pm Thu 10 Dec 09
weymouthfox wrote:Hear Hear. It appears the officers let all kinds of things 'slip in' un-noticed. Why someone didn't think to check this in the first place is beyond me. As for being able to make things like matchstick models, well... It shouldn't be allowed! They're in prison. They shouldn't be allowed out of their cell - at any time, not to make models, to make calls or even to speak to people. They did the crime, they must do the time!
I had a good laugh at this story. So the prison officers are so alert they failed to notice a "christmas tree" four months ago, that actually was a cannabis plant! Perhaps the officers have been smoking something interesting as well.
magura, poole says...
7:40pm Thu 10 Dec 09
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Chris S B, Weymouth says...
9:34am Wed 9 Dec 09