The mother of a crack-addicted baby killer has been jailed for smuggling drugs to her son in prison.

Paula Goodman, 45, said she bowed to his demands in an attempt to stop him committing suicide behind bars.

Jailing her for four months, District Judge Paul Tain said: "Not withstanding the sympathy that some people may have with your circumstances, there is no other sentence than custody.

"Taking drugs into prison is a serious offence made worse because they have a greater value inside."

Aaron Goodman, 27, was jailed for life in March for beating girlfriend Emma Back's one-year-old baby to death. They then left Sam's body for 18 days at their flat in Church Road, St Leonards.

The pair were more concerned about getting their next fix than ensuring his proper burial, the Lewes Crown Court jury was told.

Two weeks after Goodman's life sentence was passed, his mother was caught on Lewes Prison's CCTV cameras removing a package from a waistband before passing it to him.

Andrew Holt, prosecuting at Hastings Magistrates Court, said when her son was searched by prison officers cannabis resin with a street value of £75 was found.

He claimed to have already had the drugs but when police searched his mother's home on April 19, they discovered cannabis worth £50.

Mrs Goodman, of West Parade, Bexhill, admitted supplying cannabis resin on March 31 and to possessing cannabis on April 19.

Magistrates heard how her son manipulated her, forcing her to spend thousands of pounds to help fund his drug habit and pay his debts.

After being convicted of murder, he was placed on suicide watch.

Aiden Harvey, defending, said Goodman gave his mother an ultimatum: He would take his life if she could not get him drugs.

Mrs Goodman, who had no previous convictions, finally relented.

Mr Harvey said: "She was not happy with the arrangement.

"Her son told her where to buy the drugs, how to conceal them and how to pass them to him in prison. But CCTV operators were watching."

Earlier, the court heard how Mrs Goodman's life had been thrown into turmoil by her son's killing of little Sam.

He died days before his second birthday after being struck with such force that his bowel ruptured.

He suffered a series of horrifying injuries and bites. Traces of cocaine were found in his blood.

The baby's mother, formerly of Park Road, Bexhill, is serving three-and-a-half years at Holloway prison in London for neglecting Sam and conspiring to prevent his lawful burial.