Gangster jailed for eight months for having a phone behind bars

A gangster has been jailed for having a mobile phone in prison – shortly before being handed a mobile phone by prison chiefs.

Ajmer Ali, who has links to organised crime, was jailed for eight months on Friday after he admitted being caught with a phone behind bars for the fourth time.

But the court was told that since he was caught trying to hide his cellmate’s phone in his boxer shorts he has been handed a phone to use inside Perth Prison.

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton, defending, said: “Ironically, during the Covid lockdown prisoners have been provided with mobile phones, including Mr Ali.”

Drug dealer Ali, 38, admitted having the phone inside Perth Prison on January 4 while he was serving seven and a half years after being caught with a £170,000 haul of Class A drugs.

He was previously jailed for 16 years in connection with abduction, assault and firearms offences in 2006.

Depute fiscal Matthew Kerr told Perth Sheriff Court:

“The accused was seen to put something in his pocket.

“He took his hand out of his pocket and put it in the back of his boxer shorts to conceal what he had.

“He was subject to a full search.

“He made a sudden movement and was restrained.

“A small mobile phone fell from his person on to the floor.”

The court heard that

Ali had managed to keep communicating from behind bars during the past eight years.

He was first caught with a contraband mobile phone inside Perth Prison in 2012 and was discovered twice more before the latest incident.

Sheriff Gillian Wade said: “You do have a very lengthy and serious record which extends back some period of time and you are serving a substantial sentence.”

In February 2017, Lord Boyd of Duncansby sentenced Ajmer Ali to seven years and six months’ imprisonment after the accused pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of diamorphine.