A MUM who was caught sending drug-soaked letters to her son in prison has now been jailed herself.

The drugs sent to Glenochil prison by Dawn O'Neill were worth anything up to £7000 behind bars.

She claimed she had been forced into the crime by threats made to her son and herself.

O'Neill, of Isla Court, Alyth, appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court last Thursday, September 8.

The 50-year-old admitted that between February 15 and February 22, at HMP Glenochil, she was concerned in supply of a controlled drug.

Depute fiscal Susannah Hutchison said the items sent to the prison were documents soaked in a liquid infused with a drug known as 'spice'.

Police had received information that this practice was taking place and CCTV images showed O'Neill sending the letters from a post office on three occasions within a week.

There were seven sheets sent, each with a prison value of £500 to £1000.

Defence solicitor Brian Allison said it was a "difficult case".

He added that his client's position was that her son was in debt and threats were made about what would happen to him and to her if she did not go along with this.

She acted out of "care and concern for her son, deciding she had no real alternative".

Sheriff Robert Carr jailed O'Neill for 31 weeks.