A woman who tried to smuggle cannabis and a SIM card into the Mount Prison at Bovingdon in Hertfordshire was caught by a sniffer dog.

The dog alerted prison staff and 25-year-old Elena Turner from Welling in South East London was detained.

When she was searched, a capsule containing 11 grams of cannabis and the Sim card were found wrapped in cling film and hidden in her bra, said Kevin West, prosecuting at St Albans Crown Court today (Thursday).

She made no comment to police questions.

Turner of The Green, Welling, appeared for sentenced having pleaded guilty to two charges of conveying a prohibited article into prison. It happened at around 2pm on January 2 this year.

Defending, Matthew Hardyman said Turner was visiting a man in custody that she had been in contact with through a mutual friend. He said she had never met him outside prison.

Turner, who is expecting her first child, had lost her job as a pharmacy technician and was now working as an administrative assistant.

He said she had been diagnosed with a borderline personality.

Judge Michael Roques said drugs and mobile phones in prisons cause real problems.

But he said there was no need for her to go to straight to prison. He passed a nine-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months. She must complete 12 mental health psychological sessions and abide by a  three-month curfew between 8pm and 6am.