Mum plotted with jailed son to send drugs to him in ball thrown over prison wall
A gang member's street cred went down the drain as he appeared in the dock with his mum.
Jamie Challis was jailed for his part in a terrifying robbery in which he held a knife to a man's throat as he and two other thugs demanded cash.
Just months before the ordeal, 25-year-old Challis conspired with mum Amanda Challis to smuggle drugs hidden in tennis balls into prison while he served time.
He was jailed at Cardiff Crown court for both crimes, as it was heard how Mr Challis subjected a homeowner to terror during the robbery in Bridgend, Wales, in October 2021.
The defendant was with two other men when they forced their way into the house, grabbing the victim named only as Mr Evans as they screamed demands for cash, Wales Online reports.
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When told there was none in the house, one gang member went upstairs while the other two went to the kitchen.
Both returned brandishing knives from the kitchen before holding the blades to Mr Evans' throat.
They also demanded money from Mr Evans’ wife, who later said she feared for her life, then, with two others, ran to an outbuilding repeating the same demands to the victim's son and his friends.
Jamie Challis was later identified by DNA he left behind while the other four have not been located.
The court heard Challis had been recently released from prison when he partook in the robbery, and while there conspired to smuggle in drugs.
Mum Amanda Challis was seen "acting suspiciously" driving near Portland Prison in Dorset on May 6, 2020, while inmates were exercising in the prison yard.
Jamie Challis has been jailed (MEDIA WALES)Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe told the court: “[Officers] believed that the purpose of her attendance was to throw items into the young offenders institution concealed in a tennis ball.
“When her car was searched a tennis ball was found and inside the ball they found cannabis resin and tobacco.”
Ms Challis, 55, was later arrested while further searches of the car led to the discovery of another six tennis balls under the floor compartment of the vehicle.
Around 97g of cannabis was found along with 70g of tobacco were found in total, with a combined prison value of around £8,000.
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Officers inside meanwhile seized a phone from Jamie Challis, which he had hidden in his bottom.
Detectives analysing messages found the mum and son had conspired to the smuggling, discussing how they would get the drugs into the prison.
Jamie and Amanda Challis, both from Newport, Wales, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convey a 'list A' prohibited article into a prison while the younger Challis also pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and separate offences of driving a motor vehicle dangerously, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and possession of drugs with intent to supply.
Gareth Williams, for Jamie Challis, said his client was not the lead offender in the burglary incident but conceded that he was one of the men holding a knife.
“He is not an intimidating character but one that is easily led,” he said.
Jailing Jamie Challis for 14 and a half years with five on license, Judge Paul Hobson branded him “a dangerous offender.”
He must serve two-thirds of the sentence behind bars before being considered for release, and was also disqualified from driving for a period of 14 years and eight months.
Amanda Challis pleaded guilty to her part in the conspiracy, with barrister David Purnell saying she was “largely persuaded by her son to be involved in this enterprise”.
She was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
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