Prisoner caught with mobile phone which he used to contact his girlfriend from HMP Leeds

Lyndon Powell was found in possession of the device during a search at HMP Leeds on February 27 this year.

Carly Green, prosecuting, said the inmate was the subject of a full search by officers in the segregation unit at the prison at 1.45pm but nothing was found on him.

Leeds Crown Court he was then searched using a body scanner but no illegal items were detected.

An officer decided to do a further search after noticing that Powell had his trouser leg tucked into his sock.

As the mobile phone was recovered by the officer, the defendant said: "Oh no. My bird is going to get banged all over because I can't get in touch with her."

The phone was examined and found to be in working order.

It was also capable of receiving data and texts were recovered from the phone.

Miss Green read a statement to the court on behalf of the prison governor describing the damaging impact of mobile phones in prisons.

The prosecutor said: "It presents a serious risk to the good order of the prison and the safety of the staff."

Powell, 29, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to possessing a mobile phone in prison.

Martin Morrow, mitigating, said Powell pleaded guilty to the offence at an early stage.

Mr Morrow said his client had been released from custody in May but was returned to jail within 36 hours after he breached social distancing measures at the bail hostel in Leeds where he had been placed.

The court heard Powell's relationship with the woman he had been contacting was now over,