A PRISONER who bought drugs while on day release has been jailed today.Bradley Cockburn, 41, of HMP Norwich, was serving a four-year sentence for supplying drugs when he was allowed out of low security Hollesley Bay prison to work at Felixstowe Docks.

A PRISONER who bought drugs while on day release has been jailed today.

Bradley Cockburn, 41, of HMP Norwich, was serving a four-year sentence for supplying drugs when he was allowed out of low security Hollesley Bay prison to work at Felixstowe Docks.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that Cockburn was earning £350 a week when he met a friend in Felixstowe town centre in February this year.

Cockburn, who pleaded guilty to possession of Class A drugs, bought cocaine which was later found by prison officers in his car.

Mitigating for Cockburn, barrister Nicholas Jack said his client bought the drugs to lift him from depression.

He said: "He had not taken drugs for 20 months, for this reason he felt he was safe from temptation. He was finding a 12-hour shift tiring. The defendant was offered some cocaine, he purchased that cocaine for his own consumption."

The court heard officers found 21 grams of cocaine with a purity of 19 per cent.

Mr Jack said: "He realises the stupidity of his act, he is due to be released at the end of September. The defendant is attending a relapse prevention course at Norwich Prison."

Judge Peter De Mille said Cockburn had abused trust invested in him by prison officers.

He said: "This is a serious offence, the quantity of cocaine is quite substantial."

Judge De Mille ordered the destruction of the drugs and handed down a two-year sentence to run consecutively to Cockburn's present prison term.

He is expected to serve a year.