A drugs courier who supplied narcotics with an illicit value of more than £55,000 has been jailed for four years and six months.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how Scott Kirton (43), of Burngrange Park, West Calder, had met co-accused Kevin Malone (29), of Kellas Road, Dundee, in the car park of the Travelodge on the outskirts of Perth.
Kirton and Malone were both charged with supplying 2001.5 grammes of the class ‘B’ drug M-cat, which had an illicit maximum value of £40,000.
At court on Wednesday, both admitted that on October 14 last year at Broxden Services they were concerned in the supply of M-cat.
Kirton pled guilty to a separate charge that on October 15 at his home address he was concerned in the supply of cocaine, a class A drug.
The court heard the cocaine had an illicit maximum value of £15,650.
Depute fiscal Catherine Fraser said: ”At 6pm on October 14 last year, two drug squad officers were at the car park at the Broxden services regarding another matter. They saw Kirton alone in a car.
”Twenty minutes later they saw Malone arrive at the car park and park beside Kirton.”
The court heard how the police officers saw the two men speak to each other and noticed Kirton retrieve an item from his car and go to Malone’s car. Kirton was seen with a carrier bag, putting it back into his own vehicle.
Ms Fraser said the drugs officers suspected a ”drugs handover” was taking place and they spoke to Kirton in the back of their car.
The court heard the officers searched Kirton’s car and found £20,000 and two one kilo bags of drugs.
Malone’s house was searched the following day at 11.15am and officers found £5,900 and a mobile phone in his car. Police established he had been sending text messages to Kirton.
Ms Fraser said a search warrant was then granted to raid Kirton’s home and police found three bags of cocaine.
Solicitor Mike Tavendale, for Kirton, said his client had formerly been a businessman who had ”fallen on hard times.”
”My client’s role in this was a courier and holder of drugs for his financial gain,” he said. ”He went bankrupt and it was easy money to get involved in this. He succumbed to the drugs trade.”
Solicitor Ross Donnelly, for Malone, said: ”My client’s role was a minor one.”
Sentencing Kirton, Sheriff Michael Fletcher said the value of the drugs was ”extremely high”.
He added: ”You admitted two separate drugs charges that can only be dealt with by a custodial sentence.”
Malone was sentenced to 27 months in prison.