A drug addict caught smuggling cannabis into an Oxfordshire prison has been jailed for six months.

Richard Madden tried to swallow the drug after officers at Bullingdon Prison, near Bicester, became suspicious.

Madden, 30, of Buttercup Square, Greater Leys, Oxford, admitted possessing the Class B drug with intent to supply when he appeared at Oxford Crown Court on February 20.

Julie Hopkins, prosecuting, said Madden, a long-term heroin addict, tried to smuggle 5.66g of cannabis to give to inmate Mark Hofman, his cousin, on July 7 last year.

She said the drug had a street value of between £16 and £20, but could sell for up to £220 in prison.

Ms Hopkins said officers became suspicious because Madden had kept one of his hands tightly clenched throughout a visit. When he was approached, Madden attempted to swallow the drug, which was wrapped in plastic.

Ms Hopkins said he was taken away from the visiting area and repeatedly tried to snatch the cannabis as officers inspected it.

She said Madden had seven previous convictions for dishonesty, theft and violence-related offences, but none relating to drugs.

In a pre-sentence report, Madden said he was physically abused as a child by his mother and left home at an early age.

He said he was trying to kick his heroin addiction and had not taken illegal drugs for a few months.

Judge Gareth Davis said: "The amount of cannabis is small on the streets, but in prison is significantly more. It leads to breaking rules within the prison, can lead to violence and certainly causes trouble for officers."