Court / Drug courier jailed for almost two years

A MAN from Lanarkshire who was caught at Sumburgh Airport with cocaine worth almost £50,000 has been sent to prison for 22 months.

Appearing for sentencing at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Dominic Martin John Mclardy had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of being concerned in the supply of a class A drug.

The 25-year-old was stopped by police at the airport after they had received intelligence that he might be carrying drugs.

Mclardy, of East Kilbride, had been on a flight from Edinburgh which was carrying people working on a civil engineering project in the isles.

Police found almost 500 grams of cocaine in his luggage which, according to the Crown, had a potential value of between £35,000 and almost £50,000.

In court on Wednesday defence solicitor Tommy Allan said his client had been taken advantage of after getting into debts due to his drug addiction.

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Asking for leniency, the solicitor presented the court with a number of references, including one from Mclardy’s employer who was prepared to stand by him.

However, Mclardy was realistic about his fate, the lawyer added.

Jailing him, Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said he was entirely prepared to accept that Mclardy’s offending was the result of his own addiction, but said his job was to discourage others and to protect the community.