Drug dealer was seized at Perth station

Police seized cocaine with a maximum potential street value of more than £100,000 after arresting a man at Perth Railway Station - and then searching his home.

Acting on intelligence, officers detained 48-year-old Douglas Wilkinson on the station’s platform seven and told him he would be searched.

He then told them he had drugs in the pocket of his hoodie and added: “I’m due somebody money so it was to pay them off.”

A search warrant was then obtained and a blue bag, containing three separate bags of cocaine, were recovered from the bedroom of his flat.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that one of the bags tested had an 85 per cent purity level while the two others were 81 per cent pure.

The accused, who admitted dealing in the class A substance - an offence “aggravated by a connection with serious organised crime” - was warned to expect a jail term when he returns to court on October 8.

Sheriff William Wood told him: “Clearly you should make arrangements to put your affairs in order.”

He granted car mechanic Wilkinson bail meantime while a background report is prepared.

He admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine at the Leonard Street rail station on November 27 last year when he appeared on indictment at Perth Sheriff Court this week.

He also pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class B amphetamine at his home in Dalkeith Road, Dundee, the same day.

Depute fiscal Stewart Duncan said the accused was seen disembarking from a train at the station and police moved in.

Officers took possession of a smart phone as well as train tickets from Perth-Nottingham and NottinghamPerth.

Officers also recovered 173 grammes of amphetamine which had a maximum potential street value of £730.

Solicitor Anika Jethwa said the accused had a “drug-related difficulty” and his daughter and her former partner were “well-known to the courts” in connection with drug issues.

He had “accrued a number of debts” and became involved in drug dealing to help pay them off.