Court / Man given 16-month prison sentence after ‘spectacular fall from grace’ led him to drug supply

A MAN from Tingwall whose “spectacular fall from grace” saw him become involved in the supply of cocaine has been given a 16-month prison sentence.

Darren Boxwell appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday for sentencing after previously admitting being concerned in the supply of the class A drug between 1 December 2018 and 12 July 2019.

The court heard that the revenue involved ranged from £67,000 to £84,000.

Defence agent Liam McAllister said the 33-year-old found himself in a “position that he could never have envisaged” after using drugs personally as a “release”.

The court previously heard that police searched Boxwell’s home as part of an investigation, and found a quantity of drugs and some related items.

But officers also found handwritten notes consistent with a “tick list”, while 11 “regular customers” were identified through text messages on a mobile phone.

The court previously heard that Boxwell was stuck in a “hamster wheel” at the bidding of someone “higher up in the chain”.

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McAllister said at the court on Wednesday that Boxwell had become involved with a “main dealer” after consuming drugs for personal use – with he himself ending up as something of a “sub dealer”.

He accepted his role in bulking up the drugs so the “protagonist” could receive more income, the solicitor said.

“He could not break that cycle,” McAllister added.

He said Boxwell was now working as a labourer and was on a better path. “Despite these ridiculous choices…they [his employer] have realised that it appears that he is an asset to them.”

The solicitor asked Sheriff Ian Cruickshank to consider an alternative to custody.

But the sheriff said the operation involved supply to numerous individuals and merited a prison sentence.

“This was a lengthy operation and there was a considerable degree of planning on your part,” he told Boxwell.

He sent Boxwell to prison for 16 months and granted forfeiture of the items seized by police.