Norman Egerton, 40, was caught with 147 wraps of the drug hidden in his shoes when he started his shift at Forest Bank prison, Salford.

At Manchester Crown Court, Egerton, of Burdale Drive, Irlam o'th Heights, Salford, pleaded guilty to possessing a class A drug with intent to supply.

The court heard that Egerton intended to the sell the drugs - with a prison value of �7,000 - to the inmates.

Det Sgt Russ Kelly, who led the investigation, said: "He betrayed the trust bestowed in him as a prison officer and totally abused his position to make money for himself.

"He would have been well aware that the cost of drugs within prisons are around three times more expensive to buy than they are on the streets and he took advantage of this.