Man jailed over ‘shatter’ factory

Joshua Palmer created new superdrug in Alyth cottage

A young science geek who used his chemistry expertise to create Scotland’s first commercial-scale “shatter” factory has been jailed for 32 months.

Joshua Palmer was told the lengthy sentence was needed “to deter” other Scots from distilling the powerful new superdrug.

Ten times the strength of traditional cannabis, the volatile nature of its creation means it has been linked to explosions and deaths in the US and England.

Perth Sheriff Court heard that the 26-year-old had initially created the drug in his Alyth cottage for his own use. When his successes became public, however, a shady network of unnamed acquaintances bankrolled his progression to a large-scale drug production.

The young mastermind behind Scotland’s first commercial scale shatter production has been jailed for 32 months.

Though described as a vulnerable individual with mental health difficulties, Joshua Palmer nonetheless created a sophisticated drug factory within his Alyth home.

In a period of a little more than six months, he created thousands of pounds of the powerful drug and sent it to buyers across the UK.

Perth Sheriff Court heard he had begun by distilling small amounts of the drug – created from cannabis – for his own use.

Over time, however, he was prevailed upon to increase the size of his drug production, with unnamed others offering him the money and equipment to get going.

He was said to have drawn little financial benefit from the drugs himself, but was nonetheless told he had been behind “a sophisticated and well planned” drug factory.

Shatter – also known as BHO – was a rare sight in the UK when Palmer started-up in 2015, though it was already sweeping through the US.

Ten times the strength of traditional cannabis, it is extremely volatile and its creation has led to explosions and deaths.

The discovery of Palmer’s lab was made a short time before a second discovery by Police Scotland in Glasgow.

The 26-year-old’s cultivation required superior science skills and precision but his means of distribution were far less sophisticated and led to his downfall.

He was posting two-to-three packages a day through the post from his local Scotmid store, where staff eventually became suspicious.

In addition to the regularity of visits they could detect a strong odour emanating from both the accused and his packages which they associated with cannabis and eventually opened one of the packages.

That led police officers to discover thousands of pounds of BHO – in varying stages of readiness – together with the cannabis needed to create it during a raid on March 17 last year.

In addition to equipment, they also found records of illegal activity, including details of buyers and photographs of his operation, the BHO he was creating and cannabis, on his iPhone.

Palmer, now of Morn Street in Alyth, subsequently admitted being concerned in the supply of a class B drug (tetrahydocannabinol) at ScotMid Stores in Airlie Street, Alyth and at Roadside Cottage, between August 10, 2015 and February 15, 2016. He also admitted producing the drug. Palmer’s agent told the court: “This was something he was doing for himself but when others became aware of it they prevailed upon him to produce the drug for them.

“They bought the equipment that was found in his property.

“He is a weak-minded and vulnerable individual – quite fragile – and has not been helped by his struggle with mental health problems.

“He has always been a loner and he accepts that he also got an ego-boost from being able to make this.

“It made him more popular.”

The agent begged the court to consider an alternative to custody, saying it would “not be unduly lenient”.

After taking time to consider his sentence, Sheriff William Wood returned to tell him that he believed custody was necessary.

He told Palmer it was an “unusual case” and that he was “a somewhat unusual individual” and accepted that he had vulnerabilities that might have been exploited.

Nonetheless he said: “This was a highly sophisticated operation that required a lot of planning and you were distributing drugs over a prolonged period.

“Though you have previously been of good character and carried this out for little personal gain I am satisfied this must be dealt with by way of a custodial sentence.

“That must also be one that will deter others from similar endeavours.”

Joshua Palmer leaves Perth Sheriff Court in handcuffs after being jailed yesterday.

Joshua Palmer had set up a sophisticated operation, the court heard.