AN ALLOA man agreed to help import more than a kilogram of herbal cannabis as a means to address crippling drug debts.

Craig Simpson initially denied knowledge of any drug shipment after a package with his address was intercepted by a customs officers down south.

The shipment, valued somewhere between £4000-8000 by prosecutors, was sent to Hillcrest Drive from Barcelona containing 1.2kg of cannabis.

Police later interviewed Simpson, who claimed that he had agreed to accept the drugs after running up a considerable debt to his own supplier.

At Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday (November 12) his defence agent claimed the 45-year-old was smoking around £200 worth of the drug each week.

As he couldn’t afford to maintain his habit, the first-time offender, became “beholden” to those higher up in the operation.

Depute fiscal Lindsay Brookes said the offence first came to light when the package came before a customs officer on duty in Coventry.

She said: “There was no declaration of contents on the parcel and it was subsequently opened and found to contain two heat-sealed bags. The contents were suspected to be herbal cannabis.

“As a result, police officers made enquiries into the address in Alloa and the accused was identified.

“A search warrant was craved and on January 23 the police attended the property and were allowed access by the accused.”
 

DRUG DEBTS

During the police search three bags were found, containing a number of pouches each filled with small amounts of cannabis.

Scales were also found in the flat, along with a mobile although analysis of the phone ended in a “negative result”.

The accused was taken to Falkirk Police Station and during his interview he admitted to using cannabis and to ownership of the bags found at his address.

At that time, he denied knowing about the parcel and could offer no explanation as to why it was addressed to him.

Jonathan Campbell, defending, told the court that drug dealers had “taken advantage” of his client’s vulnerable position.

He said: “During this time, Mr Simpson was on benefits and had racked up substantial drug debts.

“He was told that a way to address the debt was to assist those he was buying from.

“His payment was that he was allowed to take 16g from the package. 

"The persons involved in the onward supply said they would pick it up from his home.”

Mr Campbell added: “He was someone who was taken advantage of; he was put in a difficult position, and he then made a stupid decision.”

The drugs found at Simpson’s house, set out in 24 different pouches, was estimated to be £400.

His lawyer admitted that the sub-division of the drugs, along with scales found at Simpson’s address, “casts doubt” on the position that the cannabis was for personal use.

However, he insisted the father-of-three was “not involved in the onward supply of drugs” in the area.

In sentencing, Sheriff David Mackie said: “I’ll make no bones about it, being concerned in the supply of cannabis of this nature would warrant a custodial sentence.

“But there are a number of reasons in your case why this would not be appropriate...not least that you are a first offender at 45 years old.

“I feel a custodial sentence would serve no meaningful purpose. However, there should be an element of punishment.”

The sheriff then ordered that a risk of liberty order be carried out to determine whether an electronic tag and curfew may be imposed.

Simpson is due back in court next month to be sentenced.