Jail for man who had £100,000 of cocaine

Douglas Wilkinson receives 45 months for offence connected to organised crime

A mechanic who helped an organised crime gang flood Scotland with more than £100,000 worth of cocaine was jailed for 45 months yesterday.

Douglas Wilkinson, 48, helped the Nottingham-based gang bring ultrapure cocaine north of the border and was caught with almost a quarter of a kilo of the drug at his home.

Yesterday at Perth Sheriff Court, Wilkinson, from Dundee, was jailed for nearly four years after he admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine at Perth railway station on November 27. The offence was aggravated by being connected to organised crime.

He also admitted being concerned in the supply of amphetamine at the city’s Dalkeith Road on the same date. The amphetamine had an illicit value of £1,730.

Sheriff William Wood told him: “You have pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of a class A drug. The quantity involved was substantial.

“If re-cut and sold commercially it could generate in excess of £100,000. It was of a higher than normal purity, so likely to be re-cut for sale.

“Bearing in mind that the availability of class A drugs is a scourge on society which encourages crime, wrecks families and ruins lives, only a substantial custodial sentence is appropriate.

“I also take into account that it was connected to serious, organised crime.”

Depute-fiscal Stewart Duncan told the court: “Intelligence had been provided that the accused was involved in the supply of drugs. A white van registered to the accused was seen in Perth.

“Police made their way to the railway station.

“He was seen disembarking from a train. He was detained for a search.”

Wilkinson told officers: “I have drugs in my hoodie pocket. I was due somebody money so it was to pay them off.”

Officers found drugs on Wilkinson along with items of paraphernalia and a return train ticket between Nottingham and Perth. They searched his home.

“Within the bedroom they recovered several bags of white powder,” Mr Duncan said. He told the court that the cocaine was around 85% pure.

He said that if it was cut to the normal street deal purity of around 10% it would be worth a total of £102,050.

Mr Duncan said the investigating officers had no doubt because of the large quantity of cocaine that the accused was involved in dealing drugs.

Solicitor Anika Jethwa said Wilkinson had a drug difficulty.

“He was in employment but lost his job as a consequence of this matter.

“He has no previous drug convictions and he is a mature man.”

The court was told that Wilkinson “bitterly regretted” his involvement in drug dealing and wished that he could turn back time.

I also take into account that it was connected to serious, organised crime. SHERIFF WILLIAM WOOD

Douglas Wilkinson, who was jailed for 45 months for being concerned in the supply of cocaine.