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More on KentOnline
An inmate was found with several improvised knives and mobile phones after a sharp-eyed deputy governor spotted a line running between two cells.
One evening in February a member of staff at HMP Swaleside on Sheppey spotted the line running between two cells at the prison, which is nicknamed Stabside because of the number of assaults which happen there.
So the following day he ordered a search of the cell of Martin McCartney - who is serving a 14-year extended jail sentence for kidnap and stabbing - which was on one end of the line.
And a jury at Maidstone Crown Court heard how officers found spikes, knives, razors and illegally held mobile phones.
They convicted the 37-year-old on 14 charges of possessing illicit items in prison including eight improvised weapons and he has now received a four-and-a-half jail sentence, which will run consecutively to his present jail term.
In 2015, he was convicted by a jury in Hertfordshire and received a 10-year immediate sentence and the judge added another four years which will be served on licence when he is finally released.
The judge, Recorder Edward Burge QC, heard how McCartney claims he has spent 14 out of the last 15 years inside jail.
He faced two trials for the offences after a jury in the first hearing couldn't agree on a verdict, after putting forward the defence of duress.
McCartney failed to leave prison for his re-trial and was convicted in his absence.
During his sentencing, McCartney, who appeared by prison video-link, became agitated and claimed he had wanted to come to court, but the judge told him: "Sorry, the water has well and truly passed under that bridge".
Defence barrister Tom Stern said McCartney had agreed to stash a fellow inmate's "hooch" and then got the reputation of someone willing to act as a custodian to other items.
He added that McCartney had neither manufactured the weapons nor used them but had been "caught up in the tangled web" on the prison's A wing.
After sentencing, DC Karen Hearn said: "McCartney’s actions represented a serious threat to prison security and the vigilance of prison officers prevented the weapons being used against another inmate.
"Despite already serving time for a serious offence, he has shown little attempt to change his behaviour and I am pleased that our investigation into these new offences has resulted in a considerable increase to the amount of time he will be serving in custody."
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