Back to jail for drug smuggling

A YOUNG Shetland man serving a 56 month sentence in a young offender institution for causing a horrendous fatal accident in Lerwick in November 2007, was sentenced to a further 16 months after admitting being involved in smuggling amphetamine, a Class B drug, into the isles on 9 February.

The court heard that 22 year old Ross Sutherland was on home leave from prison when he was arrested by police officers at Sumburgh Airport.

Sutherland handed over a bag with 460 grams of amphetamine, with a street value of £4,600, when asked if he was carrying any drugs.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said Sutherland had been doing well in prison as he had progressed to the open prison at Castle Huntly, where he was working on a golf course and had regularly been granted home leave.

Having been sentenced to four years and eight months in December 2008, Sutherland hoped to be released on parole on 4 April this year, Mr Allan said.

He added that his client had been threatened with violence by someone in Aberdeen who forced him to take the drugs to Shetland. The drugs were not intended for personal use nor was there any financial benefit for Sutherland, the solicitor said.

Sutherland crashed a car he and some friends were travelling in at high speed near the South Road roundabout, in Lerwick, on 4 November 2007, killing his friend Ian Sandison.

Mr Allan said his client was fully aware that he was about to lose all the benefits he had gained during his time in a young offenders’ institute.

Sheriff Graeme Napier told Sutherland that he had had plenty of opportunities to report to the authorities prior to travelling to Shetland.

He sentenced him to 16 months in jail, a sentence that will only commence once Sutherland has served the remainder of the previous jail term.