Jail warning for cannabis courier

A MAN from Devon has been warned that he is likely to go to jail after admitting taking almost five kilograms of cannabis to Shetland.

Police, acting on intelligence, stopped and arrested Jamie David Southgate as he disembarked the overnight ferry from Aberdeen, on the morning of 5 September last year.

Officers found 4.8 kilograms of the Class B with a value of £16,000 hidden in Southgate’s van.

Lerwick Sheriff Court heard that Southgate, of Flat 22, Chandlers Height, Shadycombe Road, Salcombe, acted in an extremely nervous manner when stopped by police officers.

In court on Tuesday he admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class B drug.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Southgate had acted as a courier, and added that there was no suggestion that he would have been involved in the onward supply on the islands.

The 42 year old appeared in hand cuffs and from custody after a warrant had been issued last months following a non-appearance for an earlier court hearing.

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Defence solicitor Tommy Allan asked for Southgate to be released on bail to allow him “to get his house in order” before sentencing.

He said his earlier non-appearance was due to him not fully appreciating the seriousness of his situation and also not understanding the “Scottish system”.

Sheriff Philip Mann released Southgate on bail and deferred sentence until 31 August to allow time for a criminal justice report to be prepared.

And he warned him that the most likely outcome of this case would be a prison term.