More jail time for dealer caught sneaking heroin into prison

A drug dealer has been using home leave visits to smuggle heroin back into prison.

Gary Bradburn had only served a third of his sentence when he was moved to open security conditions and allowed out for trips home.

But Bradburn, 42, who was serving five years and three months for his part in a £600,000 heroin trade, was sneaking drugs back into Castle Huntly.

The crime emerged when he appeared at Perth Sheriff Court, where he admitted having heroin and another drug at the jail, near Dundee, on November 16 last year. Depute fiscal Catriona MacQueen said: “Prison officers entered the accused’s cell and could see he was unresponsive in his bed.

“He was eventually awoken and appeared slightly sleepy and unsteady on his feet. Officers had cause to believe he may have taken a number of substances.

“He was asked if he had anything and said no. But during a search of the accused a number of packages were recovered from within his boxer shorts.

“He took responsibility for ownership but stated he was holding it for someone else. He refused to say who that was.”

Bradburn admitted having heroin worth £750 and five Zopiclon tablets worth £25 in the prison.

Solicitor Paul Hannah, defending, said: “He has already suffered in respect that he has lost the privileges attached to open conditions.”

Sheriff William Wood added eight months to Bradburn’s sentence and told him: “You have abused your privilege by being allowed out on home leave and then bringing drugs back into the prison.”