Court / Pair caught with almost £120k in drugs remanded in custody before sentencing
One accused claimed they were just in Shetland ‘for a night out’
TWO men who brought cocaine and cannabis with a combined potential value of almost £120,000 to Shetland have been remanded in custody and warned they will likely be jailed.
Ross Bradley and Connor McNeil admitted being concerned in the supply of a class A and class B drug at Aberdeen and Lerwick NorthLink ferry terminals on 18 and 19 January this year.
McNeil also admitted being in possession of an offensive weapon, namely a knuckle duster.
Police acting on intelligence stopped the pair – both of Clydebank – as they drove off the NorthLink ferry on the morning of 19 January in Lerwick.
Officers found there was an “overpowering smell of cannabis” in the car, and when searched discovered two large boxes of the drug – one half filling the back seat, and another filling the boot.
When questioned, 37-year-old Bradley said they had just come to Shetland for a night out, Lerwick Sheriff Court heard.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said that would have been “some night out”, if true.
Police seized 124.02 grams of cocaine, which could have achieved a value of around £15,000 if broken down into its smallest possible quantities and sold on the street.
Almost 7kg of cannabis was found – roughly £42,000 if sold in bulk.
But procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said that would have been worth £103,740 if sold on the street.
Officers also found a knuckle duster in the car, which had the 28-year-old McNeil’s DNA on it.
A third person, Shaun White, had his not guilty pleas accepted by the court.
The court heard McNeil gave “fairly fanciful” responses when questioned by police, saying he “didn’t know” where he was going to in Shetland or where he would be staying.
Mackenzie said this was “more than just a couriering exercise”, and that it appeared the pair were making an “opportunistic” attempt to raise money “by nefarious purposes”.
Both defence agents Judith Reid, representing McNeil, and Tommy Allan – representing Bradley – reserved mitigation, with the sheriff indicating he would require background reports before sentencing them.
However, Sheriff Cruickshank encouraged the solicitors to persuade him why Bradley and McNeil should be bailed in the meantime.
Reid said it was “almost inevitable” that McNeil would be jailed, but said he had co-operated fully throughout the process.
She added there was “nothing about this young man” that would suggest he would not show for a further court appearance.
Allan said Bradley had helped officers during their search of the car.
He also said his client disputed the value of the cannabis which had been provided to the court, saying McNeil had been “surprised” by it.
Allan said though they were “still talking about a significant amount”, and he questioned if a more “realistic” value needed to be presented.
Sheriff Cruickshank was not suitably persuaded by the pleas and ordered Bradley and McNeil to be remanded in custody until their next appearance.
He said the court would react toughly to “anybody coming to Shetland trying to be involved in the supply of drugs, particularly cocaine and cannabis”.
Sentence was deferred for the preparation of criminal justice social work reports.
The pair will return for sentencing on 20 November.
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