CCTV shows a bungling man trying three times to lob a £12,000 drugs parcel over a prison wall – only succeeding on the fourth throw – but a guard spotted it instantly
A bungling bloke was caught on camera trying and failing three times to throw £12,000 worth of drugs over a prison wall.
CCTV footage captured Joshua Smith, 30, attempting to throw a package full of Class A drugs over a brick wall and into HMP Hull, East Yorkshire. Smith, who is topless, can be seen on camera launching the black package three times – but each time it hits the wall and falls back to the ground.
It is only on the fourth occasion that he manages to get it over the wall and into the grounds of the prison. Unfortunately for Smith, a prison guard watched the parcel drop over the wall and reported the incident, which happened on July 11, 2025.
It was later intercepted, and inside, officers found a mixture of class A and B drugs and a mobile phone. An investigation was launched, and Smith was later identified and arrested.
When questioned, chiefs have said he indicated that he did throw the package but quickly changed his answers to ‘no comment’. Smith, of no fixed abode, appeared at Hull Crown Court on Monday (August 24) where he was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison for two counts of throwing a prohibited article into a prison.
He had pleaded guilty to the offences at a previous hearing. Leading the investigation, Detective Constable Heather Butler said: “Following the report from the prison an investigation into the contents of the package and how it arrived at the prison was launched.
“The package was analysed leading to the discovery of an estimated £12k of drugs including class A drugs and a mobile phone. CCTV was acquired from the outside of the prison showing a man appearing to make several unsuccessful and a final successful attempt to throw a package over the prison wall shortly before the prison officer located the package inside the prison.
“Further evidence was collated leading to the identification of Joshua Smith, he was arrested and when questioned initially indicated that he did throw the package but quickly changed the answers to questions posed to him to no comment. Smith made the decision to facilitate dangerous drugs entering the prison, this behaviour will not be tolerated, and we continue to work closely with HM Prison Service to ensure those who engage in this type of crime are held accountable.
“Thankfully on this occasion the package was found almost instantly and never reached it’s intended destination, however these drugs could have had catastrophic consequences and facilitating drugs entering a prison is a criminal offence.
“We will continue investigate all reports of drugs offences and I urge everyone in the community to report any suspicious behaviour, no matter how small using our non-emergency number 101.
“Alternatively, you can also report anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
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