A Bradford mother ran a drugs debt-collecting service for inmates at a high-security prison, a Court heard.

Linda Thoma, 52, of Upper Cage Street, Wibsey, collected payments from prisoners' families for heroin smuggled into Full Sutton prison, York.

Hull Crown Court heard how the drugs were carefully wrapped in carbon copy paper and concealed in the spines of glossy magazines.

Details about Linda Thoma's alleged involvement were given at the trial of former inmate Darren Cooper yesterday. He denies one charge of conspiracy to import the drugs into A Wing.

Prosecutor Guy Kearl told the court the smuggling operation - which helped spread the sale of drugs within the prison - took part in the first half of 1999.

He said those involved included 39-year-old inmate Kevin Booth, formerly of Huddersfield, his girlfriend Tracy Thoma, 28, of Causewayside, Lindthwaite, Huddersfield, and her mother Linda. Mr Kearl said Booth and Cooper conspired to import heroin into the prison by using Tracy Thoma to send in bundles of up to four magazines inside packages which looked as if they had come from WH Smith wholesale suppliers in Bradford.

A suspicious censor at the prison exposed the operation in June 1999 after intercepting a package.

When West Yorkshire Police drugs squad officers searched Linda Thoma's home on July 6 and recovered £265 she said she was keeping for Booth.

Mr Kearl said there was also an account book which appeared to record payments from prisoners' families.

He told the court: "The prosecution says these were her (Linda Thoma's) account books, detailing what she had spent to acquire the heroin and other paraphernalia.

"They also showed the money she had received and money owed. She was responsible, at the very least, for collecting the money on the outside."

He said some of the money went towards a holiday for her daughter Tracy and home improvements.

The trial continues.