A CORRUPT prison officer who tried to smuggle drugs into Bullingdon Prison was today jailed for 18 months.

Clinton Pepper tried to take 64g of cannabis into the jail near Bicester after being persuaded by one of the inmates, Oxford Crown Court heard.

The 33-year-old was caught after a drugs dog in the prison searching area found the drug in his bag.

Jonathan Stone, prosecuting, said Pepper also had a mobile phone charger, 10 packets of cigarette papers and personal correspondence for the inmate when he was caught in September last year.

He said Pepper told police he was given £150 for agreeing to take them into the jail.

Pepper, of Hemel Hempstead, admitted one charge of conveying a prohibited article into prison.

Nicholas Aldridge, defending, said Pepper had financial problems.

He said: “He found he was being constantly spoken to by a particular inmate.

“It was on a daily basis he was being asked to traffic the goods.

“He felt very much on his own. He did not feel he had support from his employers.”

Jailing him for 18 months, Mr Recorder John Hardy said: “You became prey to what I have no doubt were the overtures of an experienced and manipulative criminal who induced you to do him favours.

“For £150 you have converted yourself from a prison officer to a prison inmate.”

He added: “The effect, even of a small quantity of cannabis, taken in in this way, particularly when it is taken in by a serving prison officer, has potentially hugely destructive effects on morale, integrity and every working aspect of the prison, which is why it is in my view a very grave offence.”