Attention seeker' jailed for throwing fake gun and knife over wall of HMP Wakefield 'for a practical joke'

Christopher Williamson told police he committed the offences for a joke while he was high on amphetamines.

Leeds Crown Court heard the 46-year-old was caught on camera throwing the prohibited items over the wall outside HMP Wakefield on December 7 last year.

He was arrested and claimed he did not know any inmates at the prison but had committed the offences for a practical joke.

Williamson, of Montague Street, Agbrigg, Wakefield, pleaded guilty to two offences of throwing an article into prison.

Satpal Roth-Sharma, mitigating, described Williamson's behaviour as "attention seeking".

The barrister told the court: "He does not know anyone in the prison. His thinking was impaired because he was on drugs at the time.

"He says it was a practical joke that backfired on him.

"It was merely an act of stupidity."

Ms Roth-Sharma said the former truck driver lived a lonely life on benefits and has suffered with mental health issues.

Judge Mushtaq Khokhar jailed Williamson for six months.

He said: "For a period of ten years you have not committed any offences and have managed to stay out of trouble.

"There is no doubt that you have suffered from mental health issues for a number of years.

"They are exacerbated by your addiction to amphetamines.

"I can only think it was either an act of utter stupidity or, as you put it to me this morning as pleas were being entered, it was a cry for help.

"The knife and imitation firearm are dangerous articles.

"They could be used for all sorts of purposes against fellow inmates and officers if they come in to the hands of those who are prone to violence.

"From that point of view it is a serious offence.

"It has the potential to undermine law and order in a prison setting."