The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘Drugs wreck lives’, says judge as he jails dealer for four years
Fife man Ian Hildersley was found with £200,000 of illegal substances after being stopped by police
A gifted basketball player from Fife has been jailed for four years after around £200,000 worth of class A and B drugs were seized by police.
Former Scotland under-21 international Ian Hildersley, from Kirkcaldy, was caught on May 3 when specialist police stopped his vehicle on the A92 near the Kirkcaldy West junction.
Almost 11,000 ecstasy tablets and a quantity of MDMA crystals with a combined estimated street value of £160,000 were found.
That led to further searches at properties in the town’s Saunders Street and Glamis Road, with an estimated £62,000 worth of cocaine and amphetamine, and more than £2,000 in cash recovered.
Hildersley, 28, pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of drugs and was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday.
In sentencing, Lord Woolman told Hildersley he would have spent six years behind bars had it not been for an early admission of guilt.
“You knew the risks you ran and went ahead anyway,” the judge said. “You did so for financial reward. “Having regard to the amount and the significant role you played in the supply chain, I find there is no other alternative to a custodial sentence.
“Preventing the distribution of class A and B drugs is of vital importance to society. Quite simply, drugs wreck lives.”
The court has previously heard how Hildersley had been travelling eastbound on the A92 when his vehicle was pulled over by police following a tip-off.
His Renault Megane was surrounded by police vehicles at around 5.20pm and his car was searched by specialist officers.
Defence solicitor Branislav Sudjic said: “Essentially, this was an illicit commercial venture which went disastrously wrong for Mr Hildersley.
“He now fully realises just how stupid and disastrous what he did was.”
Mr Sudjic added his client had used his musical talents to give music lessons to other prisoners during his time already spent in Perth prison, adding that he had also been a gifted basketball player and had been involved with the Scotland under-21 set-up.
“It’s sad but hopefully once he has served his sentence he will get involved again,” Mr Sudjic said.
Detective Chief Inspector Alan O’Brien, of the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit, said: “Hildersley was attempting to make a significant profit from the sale of class A drugs, which puts lives at risk and causes harm to our communities.
“We work closely with local officers and colleagues across the east when acting on intelligence, and are committed to disrupting the supply of illicit substances.
“I want to reassure the public that all the information we receive will be taken seriously and appropriate action taken. Continue to help us to tackle this by telling us your concerns.
“Information about drug crime can be passed to Police Scotland via 101, or reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 at any time.”