A MAN has been jailed for three years for taking drugs into a prison to supply to a prisoner.

Alan Reader tried to pass two small packets containing 7.57g of cocaine and 2.33g of heroin to the prisoner.

But the 53-year-old, said by his barrister to have "lived a life of crime", was spotted by officers at Elmley Prison, Sheppey, on February 11 last year.

Reader, of Victoria Road, Chatham, admitted supplying drugs and another charge of attempted theft.

Paul Casey, defending, said Reader hoped to rid himself of a long-term addiction to crack cocaine while in prison. He had engaged in low level offending and took a risk at the prison knowing what the consequences might be.

Mr Casey said Reader had over the years served short jail sentences, but the latest offence was on a more serious scale.

"He accepts on a point of policy a longer sentence can follow today, compared to what he is used to," he said.

"He is not in the best of health. He has a prolapsed disc in his back, a hip condition and is in the early stages of osteo-arthritis."

Judge Warwick McKinnon told Reader he must know more than anyone the view courts took about taking drugs into prisons.

"You must be aware of the effect drugs have in prison," he said. "It undermines the good order and discipline. Deterrent sentences have to be passed."

The judge said if Reader had been convicted after a trial the sentence would have been five years.