The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Prisoner boasts of snorting cocaine in illicit online video
Scottish Prison Service launches probe after inmate tells of ‘living the high life’ during sentence for theft
An investigation is under way after a prisoner filmed himself on a phone snorting “cocaine” in Perth prison.
William Dempster posted a video on social media showing him taking lines of what he claimed were class A drugs.
The 27-year-old, who was jailed for theft, has now been moved into segregation while prison officials investigate. A search of cells in his wing has already uncovered several illicit mobile phones.
In the video Dempster, who used the name Will Milano online, boasts of “living the high life” while dancing along to techno music.
He said: “Who says jail’s hard? Sniffing coke and living the high life in HMP Perth.”
He points to a fellow inmate wearing a Newcastle United strip and shouts: “Let’s get the tunes on” before his camera focuses on a bag of white substance and four lines of white powder on a table next to a smartphone.
A prison insider told The Sun newspaper: “Dempster says he’s taking illegal substances so there’s evidence there.
“Having mobile phones in prison is obviously illegal as well.”
Dempster has been posting regularly on social media from behind bars, most recently on February 20 when he posted an edited image showing him wearing a cartoon pink cap.
On January 20 he lamented “Wish I was at home now”, while friends consoled him by reminding him that he had just seven months until his release.
In a post from 2016, he suggests that women become excited by finding out “you sell drugs and have a warrant out for your arrest”.
Other posts show a taste for designer clothes and flash cars, as well as a tub of Anabol 10 – an anabolic steroid used by body builders – and protein powder.
Conservative shadow justice secretary Douglas Ross slammed the “soft touch” justice system.
He said: “It’s absurd that this offender has been getting away with being in possession of luxuries and potentially drugs while serving a punishment.
“This is just one of many examples that put the spotlight on Scotland’s soft touch justice system.
“Prison officials must do everything possible to stop this blatant disregard for prison policy.”
The Scottish Prison Service said: “We are actively investigating all of the claims. It would be inappropriate to comment further as this might result in police action.”