PAOLO TRIBUTE DENIES DRUG DEALING

Cop tells of house raid

A Paolo Nutini tribute singer went on trial yesterday accused of drug dealing after police raided his house.

Jamie McArthur, 28 - an entertainer known as Paulo Martini - allegedly produced and was concerned in the supply of etizolam, which is a Class-C drug between July last year and March this year.

He is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow alongside his former girlfriend Allana Morton, 27, Eric Reid, 45, Jamie Woods, 29 and 26-yearold Mark Reid.

It’s alleged the offences w e re committed at McArthur’s Earlshill Drive home, in Howwood. McArthur also faces a separate charge of possessing cannabis.

Yesterday, the court heard part of Morton’s police interview from March with detective constable Raymond Brownlow.

During the interview, Morton told officers she and McArthur had split up

and she hadn’t stayed at the Earlshill Drive property since February.

When asked what he did as a job she described him as “an entertainer” and said he does tribute acts.

Solicitor advocate Bob Mitchell, representing McArthur, asked the officer if he noticed a dressing room with McArthur’s name on the door during the search of the house.

DC Brownlow said he couldn’t remember that.

Mr Mitchell asked if it would surprise him that there would be a dressing room in the house, because of McArthur’s job. The officer replied: “No.” Mr Mitchell asked if the enquiries revealed that McArthur’s job was a tribute act for Paulo Nutini. DC Brownlow answered: “The enquiries didn’t but I’m sure it was over the press the following day.”

Jurors heard that “for some time” he had been performing using the name Paulo Martini.

Forensic scientist Simon Dennis tested one of the tablets found during the police search and said it was found to contain etizolam. All five deny the charges and the trial before Judge Norman Ritchie QC continues.