Courier jailed after being caught with £1,500 of drugs

A 24-year-old man who admitted being concerned in the supply of more than £1,500-worth of cannabis resin was given a six-month jail term yesterday.

Alexander Hart, of Beattie Avenue, Aberdeen, admitted the charge dating back to January 22, 2016, at Lerwick Ferry Terminal.

He was found in possession of 105g of the class B substance, with an estimated value of £1,575, and 1.7g of cocaine, worth around £100.

His co-accused ,23- yearold Peter Lovie, of Craigielea Avenue, Aberdeen, admitted possessing 11.2g of cannabis worth around £165 on the same date. He was given a community payback order and told to carry out 60 hours’ unpaid work.

Both men committed the offences while on bail granted at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said police were acting on intelligence after the pair arrived in Shetland on the NorthLink ferry.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Hart, who is currently serving a 30month sentence for a “non-analogous matter”, had been in a bad place after separating from his girlfriend, with whom he had a child.

He had come to Shetland to enjoy the Up Helly Aa festival and during the ferry journey was made aware that Lovie was in possession of cannabis and asked to help out.

Sheriff Philip Mann told Hart that dealing drugs “almost automatically leads to custody”.

“You acted as a courier, and you must have known what you were getting into,” he said, jailing him for six months to be served consecutive to his existing prison term.