Courts pursue Invergowrie drug-dealer for £18k proceeds of crime.

COURT: Proceeds of Crime case launched after father of one admits selling drugs

A Tayside electrician who started dealing cocaine for an organised crime gang made more than £70,000 from the illicit trade, according to prosecutors.

Father-of-one David Kiddy started dealing the class A drug while trying to hide his habit from his parents. He was jailed for a year.

The Crown has launched a bid to recoup the money the 26-year-old made from dealing drugs which they claim amounted to £70,924.

The Proceeds of Crime case has been lodged at Perth Sheriff Court and the Crown are initially seeking £18,462 they claim is currently recoverable.

Solicitor David Holmes, representing Kiddy, of Main Street, Invergowrie, said the case had been delayed by a Crown accountant falling ill and further information was required.

Prior to being jailed, Kiddy said he was “embarrassed and ashamed” that he had let his family down by turning to drug dealing.

The court was told Kiddy was caught during a surveillance operation which led to another man, Morris Ferrie, being jailed for 32 months.

Kiddy was caught during a drugs exchange with Ferrie and his DNA was found on the packaging around the cocaine.

Sheriff Gillian Wade told Kiddy, who had no previous convictions he had had a “dramatic rise into the world of criminality”.

She said: “There was much to be said to your credit up to this point, but for an offence of this magnitude – where serious organised crime is involved – it has to attract a custodial sentence.”

Mr Holmes said :“He had accumulated a debt, having taken cocaine.

“Instead of seeking help for that from his parents he felt embarrassed and did not want it known the position he was in.

“He was given this as an option of writing off the debt.

“He initially refused but then agreed. He made a statement that his family did not deserve what he brought upon them.

“He has written to his mother from prison to apologise and promise he will never be in court again. His parents did not anticipate he would ever bring this sort of trouble on himself.”

Kiddy admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine in Canal Street, Perth, on July 20 last year.

Depute fiscal John Malpass said: “A surveillance operation was authorised and Mr Ferrie was observed as a passenger in a vehicle driven by Mr Kiddy and it was suspected a drug transaction was taking place.”

Mr Malpass said the bag contained nearly a quarter of a kilo of cocaine with a potential street value of £24,900.