A man has had extra time added to his prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to possessing two phones while in jail.
Sean Griffiths, 22, was found with an iPhone 8 while imprisoned at HMP Feltham in Bedfont Road, Feltham, on December 2, and again on January 8, the court heard.
At Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on January 10, Griffiths pleaded guilty.
At Winchester Crown Court, on Thursday, May 1, Griffiths was sentenced by The Recorder of Winchester Judge Angela Morris.
READ MORE: Sean Ember murder: Man charged with perverting the course of justice
Judge Morris heard from prosecutor Rob Harding that call logs show that Griffiths acquired his second phone hours after his first was taken from him by prison officers.
The call logs showed that Griffiths had contacted his family when he had the phone in his possession.
Speaking in mitigation, Sam Giffin said that Griffin is a “red-band” prisoner, who is allowed special privileges due to good behaviour.
She said: “It is with great shame and sadness that the defendant comes before the court. As a serving prisoner, he is used to responsibility.
“Mr Griffiths realises that the court has limited options on how this matter is decided, but it is hoped that any future sentence is on the lower end of the scale.”
Griffiths was allowed to address Judge Morris, saying that he had been working to improve himself by taking courses while in prison, and that, while he was originally jailed for violent offences, he has not been involved with violence since his sentence began.
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Griffith added: “I take full responsibility for having a phone in prison. It was stupid.”
Judge Morris sentenced Griffith to 14 months in prison, to be added to his current sentence. He will serve the additional 14 months consecutively to his current sentence.
Griffith has also been charged with perverting the course of justice and intimidation of a witness as part of an investigation into the death of a man in Andover. Neither charge was dealt with at Winchester Crown Court on May 1.
The charges follow an investigation the death of Sean Ember, 35, from Andover.
Officers were called at 8.41pm on Friday 29 November, 2024, to a report that a man in his 30s had been stabbed at an address in Arcaro Road.
He was sadly confirmed deceased at the scene.
As previously stated, Justin Griffith, 41, of Botley Road, Southampton, was charged with murder and possession of a knife in a public place.
He is due to stand trial at Winchester Crown Court on Tuesday 6 May.
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