A SHOPLIFTER almost smuggled heroin into prison by stashing it in his foreskin.

Staff at HMP Bullingdon had a shock while searching Donald Houghton, finding four wraps of the Class A drug hidden in his penis.

At his sentencing yesterday, Oxford Crown Court heard Houghton claimed he accidentally brought the substance in, as he fell asleep in police custody and did not have a chance to get rid of it.

The 48-year-old had been arrested for shoplifting on February 16, and was taken into Bullingdon, near Bicester.

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Prosecution barrister Jane Davies told the court: "When he arrived, he was searched fully, and was invited to pull back his foreskin. Concealed therein were four wraps of heroin.

"He indicated that he had fallen asleep at the police station, and that's why he hadn't offered the [drugs] previously."

Houghton, of Armour Road in Reading, told police he had not planned to take the substance into prison with him.

Defending, Jane Brady said her client had struggled with drug misuse and he was 'adamant' he would not re-offend.

She said: "He is desperate to address his substance issues and stop using heroin."

Ms Brady said he hoped to build a better relationship with his 12-year-old daughter.

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Sentencing, Judge Nigel Daly said: "It wasn't a great deal of drugs - 0.75 grams - and it was a rather unusual way of doing it.

"You say you didn't have an opportunity to dispose of the stuff, but had you been successful [in getting it past security], no doubt you would have used it."

The court heard Houghton has a 'lengthy' record of 'minor' crimes including shoplifting and drug possession, and has already served a six-week prison stint for the shoplifting offence.

However, Judge Daly added: "Things seem to have changed recently. I'm impressed, reading your pre-sentence report, at how well you have been doing since your release.

"You seem to be making the most of things and have come to terms with your drug addiction, and are trying to do something about it."

He passed an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years, plus a year-long drug rehabilitation requirement and a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.