Baby killer's mother smuggled drugs into prison

Paula Goodman, of West Parade, Bexhill, was put under emotional pressure by her son, magistrates at Hastings were told.

Crack-cocaine addict Goodman, 27, from Church Road, St Leonards, jailed for life in March for the murder of toddler Sam Back, told her he would not take his life if she took drugs in to him, said Aidan Harvey, defending.

The 45-year-old mother pleaded guilty to supplying cannabis resin on March 31 and to possessing the drug on April 19.

The court heard how Goodman was caught on CCTV at Lewes Prison taking something from her waistband and then passing it to her son who concealed it in his trousers.

Simon Allen, prosecuting, said when Aaron Goodman was searched by the prison they recovered cannabis.

He said he had it on him already but it was not true because the action was caught on camera and his mother admitted the offence.

When Goodman's home was searched on April 14 on suspicion of the offence, she handed officers cannabis resin.

In an interview she admitted handing her son the drug.

Goodman said her son was feeling very low and depressed and she had done it at his request to cheer him up, said Mr Allen.

The street value of the amount smuggled into the prison was 75 and the amount found at the mother's home was 50 but the court heard the value in prison would be much greater.

Aidan Harvey, defending, said Goodman's life had been turned upside down over the last two years.

He referred to the proceedings which led to her son's conviction of the baby murder. He said that his father had told the court Aaron changed from being a normal child with epilepsy into a monster with heroin and crack abuse.

"His drug addiction destroyed the family unit," said Mr Harvey.

He described how Paula Goodman would finance his drug habit when it got to a certain debt and he would turn to his parents for help. Her son manipulated her, he said.

After Aaron Goodman's conviction for the murder of Sam Back the child of his partner he was placed on a hospital wing. "He was then moved back and then suggested to Paula Goodman he was going to take his life. He said, 'If you get me some cannabis I won't do it'," said Mr Harvey.

He described to the court the situation of the mother visiting a boy who had committed murder and a son who was placing pressure on her to do his bidding.

"He told her where the cannabis was and she took it in. She is against drugs but she took it in because of the threat of suicide. When arrested she said, 'yes, I did it'. She did it to try to help him, she was distraught on the last visit and took it in on the next."

Mr Harvey said having been caught with the cannabis, Aaron Goodman did attempt suicide in prison after saving up drugs and ended up with his stomach pumped out.

"It was not something he was making an idle threat over and Paula Goodman knew he was on a very low ebb and was going to take his own life," said Mr Harvey.

He said Goodman had no previous convictions and had been the backbone of the family, continuing to work through the sequence of tragic events.

Her only grandson had been taken into foster care only 10 days before, he said. Her son always approached her for money to pay for his drug debts and it was a pattern of emotional abuse which had taken place over a long period of time.

Magistrates deferred sentence for reports and Goodman was told they were keeping all their options open but would deal with the case in the magistrates court.

Goodman was bailed unconditionally and the case adjourned to July 10 at 2pm.