A man hiding out in a friend’s caravan while “on the run” was caught looking after almost £50,000 of cocaine and heroin.
Gordon Jackson had enlisted the help of a friend to evade the police by renting the mobile home on Drumdelgie Farm, Huntly.
But the 36-year-old soon became embroiled in the world of drugs when he was tasked with looking after a bag containing tens of thousands of pounds of Class-A drugs.
Jackson was “in fear for his life” and too scared to report the matter to police, but has now been jailed for his role in the illegal supply chain.
Fiscal depute Dylan Middleton told Aberdeen Sheriff Court a search warrant was executed at a lock-up, which housed the caravan, on August 18 2018.
The owner was spoken to and it emerged he had rented it out to a male, who had rented it on Jackson’s behalf as he “did not have identification” to do it in his own name.
‘He was not actively involved in selling drugs’
Mr Middleton said: “During the search, a substantial quantity of what appeared to be controlled drugs were recovered within a living area.
“Personal possessions of Jackson were also found in that area.
“A search of a vehicle within the locus revealed a rucksack within which was a
Morrison’s carrier bag and a large quantity of controlled drugs.”
Heroin worth £26,100 and cocaine worth between £21,960 and £28,200 were recovered.
Jackson claimed during a police interview that “a number of people had access” to the lock-up and that he had “no knowledge” of any drugs.
However, his DNA was found on the knot of a bag containing heroin.
Mr Middleton said: “It is understood by the Crown that the accused’s position is that he was not actively involved in selling drugs but had handled them and tied bags.
“The Crown has no evidence to contradict that position and it is noted that his DNA was found on the packaging.”
Jackson, of Union Road, Macduff, pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine.
‘He was effectively in fear for his life’
Defence agent Tony Burgess said: “Mr Jackson, to make matters worse in one view, was in fact on the run from the police.
“He had asked a friend for help in that regard, and the friend, as far as Mr Jackson is concerned, rented out the farmhouse and allowed him to live there.
“The payment for that was using Mr Jackson’s skills of being a mechanic.”
Mr Burness explained first came across the bag of drugs when he found it in a car his friend was giving him a lift in, and he “went ballistic”.
The solicitor went on: “Mr Jackson becomes involved because he takes the bag into where he’s living”.
He said Jackson knew who the owners of the drugs were and was “in fear” over the consequences if he handed them in.
Mr Burgess said: “He was effectively in fear for his life.
“He neither made, nor stood to make, any financial gain from it.”
Sheriff Graham Buchanan said: “You did have a choice, but you chose not to do anything when you became aware of what it was you had in your custody.
“I take the view only a custodial sentence is appropriate.”
He jailed Jackson for 12 months.
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