A MAN hid drugs in his underwear to try and smuggle them into prison.

Michael George O'Brien, 32, of Duke Road, Hastings, had cocaine, cannabis and steroids in his pants when he went to visit an inmate.

Drugs dogs sniffed out his stash when he entered the search area at Lewes prison, prompting a search by officers.

O’Brien has been jailed for 33 months after pleading guilty part-way through a trial for the three offences of bringing each of the drugs into the prison.

Detective Constable Paul Gray of Sussex Police said: "HMP Lewes staff and Sussex Police work together over any offences committed within the prison.

“Anyone who attempts to or brings prohibited articles into a Prison, by any means, will be dealt with robustly and charges will be sought.

“As this case shows, you may well go there as visitor, but if you commit offences whilst there, you face the possibility of becoming a inmate."

O’Brien tried to smuggle the drugs in February and was jailed on January 14.