A drugs courier who was caught transporting more than £15,000 worth of heroin after his car skidded off the road and hit a tree has been jailed for two years.
Stuart Edwards (37), Portal Crescent, Aberdeen, admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin on the A90 Perth to Dundee road on December 30 2010.
Edwards, who sustained a broken shoulder, broken arm and broken ribs in the accident near Inchture, had been driving the heroin from England to Aberdeen after racking up drug debts of his own.
Depute fiscal Emma Stewart told Dundee Sheriff Court police were called to a road accident near Inchture at 7.45am and found that Edwards’ car had skidded off the road colliding with a tree and ending up in a ditch on its side. Edwards was trapped in the vehicle and was cut free by fire crews.
Ms Stewart said: ”Firefighters saw a rucksack beside the rear seat of the car and handed it to police. Officers then handed it to the ambulance crew who were taking the accused to Ninewells Hospital.”
While Edwards was being treated for his injuries, nursing staff carried out an audit of his possessions. When they opened the rucksack they found a plastic carrier bag which contained six balls that appeared to contain brown powder.
Police were called and a forensic examination of the wrapped packages found they contained heroin with a street value of £15,500.
Kevin Hampton, defending, said Edwards was ”under no illusion about the outcome of his case and was resigned to a prison sentence.”
He said: ”My client fell into heroin addiction which got to an extensive level. He was deliberately allowed to build up a considerable debt.”
Mr Hampton added that Edwards had been told that the debt had reached such a level that he was required to do ”something in return”.
He said: ”My client was told to go to England, pick up the packages and drive them to Aberdeen. He was left in no doubt it was not an offer he could refuse. Threats were made to him and also to members of his family and he was convinced that these threats were genuine.”
Mr Hampton said Edwards was in hospital for almost two months after the accident and was on crutches for a further two months.
He said: ”My client was well aware he was picking up drugs and he knew exactly what he was doing.”
Sheriff Tom Hughes told Edwards that the offence had been ”a serious matter” and sentenced him to two years in prison, discounted from three years to reflect his guilty plea.