Dealer caught after post blunder

A drug dealer was caught after posting cannabis and writing his own details on the envelope, a court has heard.

Jeffrey McLaughlin, 31, sent a package with 20 wraps of cannabis to his friend Tracey Johnstone in Blairgowrie, but it did not fit through her letterbox.

Police later confiscated it at the sorting office and saw McLaughlin's details as the sender's address.

McLaughlin, from Irvine, was jailed for six months. Johnstone, 48, must carry out 240 hours of community service.

Both admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis resin last March.

Address label

Perth Sherrif Court heard police had been tipped off that Johnstone was receiving drugs through the post and selling them on, and had set up surveillance of her.

Fiscal depute Lucy Keane said: "On 7 March she was traced coming out of the Post Office sorting office in Blairgowrie.

"She had a package with her which was opened and found to contain around 62g of cannabis resin. It was addressed to her and the label on it had the name of Jeffrey McLaughlin."

Miss Keane said the drugs were worth £250.

The court was told Johnstone was paying back a £700 loan from McLaughlin.

Solicitor Mike Tavendale, for Johnstone, said the unemployed grandmother had been short of cash because her benefits payments had been substantially cut.

He said McLaughlin was her friend's husband and had come up with the scheme to send her cannabis which she could sell on to make a small profit of £30.

"She fully accepts the foolishness of getting involved," Mr Tavendale added.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/8510571.stm