A WOMAN who attempted to smuggle drugs worth thousands into prison, and threatened to stab two men in the street, has been shown ‘mercy’ by a judge.

Leoni Pountley, of Kestrel Lane, Birchwood, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday.

Prosecuting, Chris Hopkins told the court that on September 8, 2022, the 36-year-old visited HMP Risley.

There, she was detained after a dog indicated that she had something on her.

The court hear that Pountley was searched and found to have a package wrapped in clingfilm in her groin area.

Inside the package was 4.96 grams of cocaine that had a purity of 79 per cent and a prison value of between £2,000 to £4,000.

Also inside the package was 22 grams of cannabis resin worth upwards of £500 and 27 grams of tobacco.

Pountley’s home was then searched, where snap bags, scales and a mobile phone were all located.

When the phone was searched, it revealed that Pountley was in ‘drug debt’ due to her addiction.

The court heard that in an interview with police, the 36-year-old said she didn’t know what was inside the package when taking it in.

Pountley was then released under investigation but was later arrested after a different offence.

Mr Hopkins told the court that on August 1, 2023, the victim was told by his partner that a friend was outside their house in the street.

Upon opening the door, the friend told him that he had been in an argument with his housemate, Pountley, and had subsequently been kicked out.

Pountley arrived at the house shortly after, which was near where she was living at the time in Birchwood.

The court heard that the 36-year-old was ‘agitated’ and walked away before coming back and demanding her housemate’s mobile phone.

The incident, which was captured on CCTV, showed Pountley reach into the back pocket of her trousers and pulled out a large kitchen knife, estimated to be six inches long.

Mr Hopkins told the court that as she did so, she said ‘right, I’ll stab you in front of him’ to her housemate, and then turned to the victim and said ‘I’ll stab you as well’.

The court also heard that the victim, who considers himself to be ‘not easily frightened’, was ‘scared’ and that the incident was ‘triggering’ to his PTSD.

When the victim told Pountley that there were children inside his house, she responded ‘I don’t give a f**k’.

She was later arrested in her home by police, who found the knife still in her back pocket.

Defending, Eve Salter told the court that the 36-year-old didn’t know what was inside the package she was delivering to HMP Risley, but that she knew that its contents and bringing it into the prison was illegal.

The court also heard that Pountley’s drug debt was owed to the prisoner she was attempting to supply the drugs to.

Pountley wiped tears from her eyes as Ms Salter told the court that if she were to be jailed, it would have an impact her son, who she is the sole carer for, and her dad, who she helps support.

“She has been doing absolutely everything she can to be the best mum to her little boy, and the best daughter to her father,” said Ms Salter.

“It’s not in the public interest to send her to prison today.

“To send her to custody would seek to cause chaos in what progress she has made in her life. So, I would urge your honour to consider passing a suspended sentence today.”

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones spoke of the ‘massive effect’ bringing drugs into prison has, especially at a high purity.

However, noting that it was ‘perhaps out of mercy’ to Pountley, he reduced her sentence as she had repeatedly shown up to court prepared to go to prison and had each hearing adjourned.

The 36-year-old, who has one previous conviction, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment in totality for the charges relating to conveying prohibited items into prison but will serve no extra penalty for possessing the drugs.

She was also sentenced to a further eight months imprisonment for possessing a bladed article in a public place, which will be served concurrently.

Cheshire Police declined to release the mugshot of Pountley when requested.