A 20-year-old man who “foolishly” gave his phone to a prisoner in custody as they stood together in a court dock has been punished with a longer sentence.

Francis Lupton, who is serving two and a half years for conspiracy to burgle, had two months added to his stretch in a young offender institution by Recorder Paul Kirtley at Bradford Crown Court today.

Lupton, of Bewerley Crescent, Woodside, Bradford, pleaded guilty to passing over the “prohibited article” at Leeds Crown Court on August 4 last year.

Prosecutor Louise Azmi said he was on bail and gave the alleged co-conspirator his phone after it rang and the man pestered him for it.

The illicit hand-over was witnessed by a detective and a prison officer who saw the man in custody hide the phone in his trousers.

Mrs Azmi said Lupton’s earliest date of release was between this September and January 2012.

His lawyer, Adam Walker, said he handed over the phone “in the heat of the moment”.

The offence, four months before Lupton was locked up for the burglary conspiracy, hampered the determined efforts he was making in custody to change his ways, said Mr Walker.

The court heard Lupton had been on courses including Victim Awareness and Thinking Skills.

Recorder Kirtley told Lupton: “I accept that yours was a moment of sheer foolishness.”

Lupton was one of 14 defendants dealt with at Leeds Crown Court in December for plotting to steal £4 million of high value cars to sell on to unsuspecting customers.