A PRISON guard admitted to a police officer that a search of his car would uncover something, a court heard.

Detective Constable Spencer Scott told Hove Crown Court that Ricky Bridger made the admission to him as they walked to Bridger’s car, where Scott would find cocaine, several mobile phones and two bottles of vodka in the boot, Hove Crown Court heard.

HMP Lewes prison officers Ricky Bridger and Simon Taylor are on trial along with relatives and girlfriends of inmates, accused of smuggling drugs and contraband into the jail.

DC Scott said Bridger’s attitude changed instantly when he realised the car would be searched.

Bridger was talkative and “cocky” when a body search inside the prison uncovered no contraband, the jury heard.

The morning search at 7.30am on June 26, 2015, was the fifth time he had been subjected to a search and he said he was “getting fed up” with the procedure.

But he turned silent and pale when informed his vehicle would also be searched.

DC Scott said: “Bridger said he had nothing on him and was tired of being searched again.

“He was being a bit cocky to be honest with you.

“I said, ‘the governor has given me authority to search your vehicle’.

“His demeanour changed, he became flustered and he said, ‘can I refuse?’.

“He became very nervous, he was sweating and stopped talking.

He looked extremely pale, he’d lost the blood from his face.”

On the walk to the car, DC Scott told the court that Bridger, 54, of The Oaks, Heathfield, asked “what’s going to happen?” and was told that would depend on what the search uncovered.

DC Scott said at that point, Bridger said: “There’s something in my vehicle, in the boot.”

The police officer told Andrew Frymann, prosecuting, that in the boot of Bridger’s blue Peugeot 306 he found a packet of a green herbal substance, a black Nokia mobile, a round package of white powder and two bottles of vodka.

In the glove box of the car he found two other mobile phones.

The powder has been determined by police to have been 6.9g of cocaine.

DC Scott said while awaiting transport to Brighton police station afterwards, Bridger said: “I’m not going to say who it’s for because there will be repercussions.”

All defendants deny conspiracy to convey prohibited items into the prison.

The case continues.