A Perth cocaine dealer whose mother was jailed for trying to hide his stash from police has been locked up as well.
Ben Laing was sentenced to 32 months in prison.
He previously admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine on two separate dates around a year apart, as well as to possessing cannabis.
Laing’s mother, who rushed across Perth to try to hide his cocaine and dirty cash from police, was previously locked up for almost a year.
Police raids
Perth Sheriff Court heard that on January 31 in 2020 last year, police learned Laing may be concerned in the supply of the Class A drug and obtained a search warrant for his former home at Glenearn Road.
On February 21 they found just under 26 grammes of cocaine in his bedroom, potentially valued at between £1,300 and £2,600, along with almost £4,500 in cash.
A year later, on January 31, police found Laing on a bench outside Perth’s Civil Service Club on St Leonard’s bank.
They could smell cannabis and saw him holding a joint.
They found a handful of wraps of powder but when he was placed in a police vehicle, he remained fidgety and a further search uncovered more wraps in a hidden jacket pocket.
Police arranged a warrant to search his home in South Inch Place.
The officers who arrived at his home caught his mother trying to hide drugs and cash.
In total, police found 288 grammes of cocaine, valued at between £14,000 and £28,000, as well as more cash.
Locked up
Solicitor David Holmes pointed out his 20-year-old client was a teenager at the time of his crimes.
He said: “He’s lost a substantial amount of money.
“The Crown decided to prosecute his mother.
“That is a heavy burden for Mr Laing to bear.
“The fact is, his mother is in custody. He blames himself for that.
“Mr Laing is not somebody of significant means.”
Sheriff Euan Duthie said that “notwithstanding (Laing’s) age, the early stage of the plea and lack of record,” the seriousness necessitated a custodial sentence.
He sentenced Laing to eight months behind bars for the first offence and a further two years for the second.
A concurrent sentence was imposed for possessing cannabis.
Mum jailed too
Laing’s mother, Alison Biello previously admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice.
She had rushed to her son’s home in South Inch Place before police arrived so she could remove money and drugs.
At Perth Sheriff Court on June 22, Sheriff William Wood said: “It’s a very serious matter.
“Only a custodial sentence is appropriate.”
The 46-year-old, of Dunnock Park, was sentenced to 10 months behind bars and questions ahead of a further proof hearing must be answered by July 20.
