A woman who tried to smuggle a class A drug into police custody by hiding it inside a newspaper has been jailed.

Victoria Hicks attempted to provide a detainee with fentanyl - a synthetic tranquiliser - which was hidden inside a tabloid paper.

Before the 38-year-old's arrival however, she had spoken to the person about how to get it into the cells over a custody phone - which was heard by a sergeant.

The newspaper was searched and one of the pages in the sport section was found to be slightly thicker than the others.

This was because a clear square patch had been stuck to it and after analysis it was found to contain the drug.

Hicks, formerly of Sunningdale Court in Maidstone, was arrested for the offence, which took place in February.

The defendant initially denied all knowledge of the patch being in the newspaper and in police interview claimed that it must have already been inside when she bought it.

In court she pleaded guilty to possessing a class A drug with intent to supply and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday, September 9.

PC Mick Kavanagh , the investigating officer, said: "Hicks' plan to smuggle the drug into the custody was ill conceived and easily foiled from the get go.

"The offence is a serious one and she will now have plenty of time in jail to think about her actions. Drugs ruin lives and Kent Police will do everything in its power to keep it away from the public.

"Smuggling anything into custody is highly illegal and this case shows that anyone making attempts to bring in contraband will be caught."