Men jailed for ferrying drugs into Shetland

The men were stopped in January at Lerwick's ferry terminal

Two men who brought cocaine and cannabis worth more than £100,000 into Shetland have been jailed.

Ross Bradley, 37, and Connor McNeil, 28, admitted being concerned in the supply of drugs at the Aberdeen and Lerwick ferry terminals in January.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said such actions would not be tolerated.

Bradley, of Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, was jailed for two years and six months while McNeill, of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, was sentenced to two years and three months.

Lerwick Sheriff Court heard police, acting on intelligence, stopped the pair as they drove off the ferry on the morning of 19 January.

Officers found there was an "overpowering smell of cannabis" in the car.

When questioned, Bradley said they had just come to Shetland for a night out.

Police seized 124g of cocaine, which could have achieved a value of about £15,000 if broken down and sold on the street.

Almost 7kg of cannabis - worth about £42,000 if sold in bulk - was also recovered.

The court heard it could have been worth up to £103,740 if sold on the street.

'Worst decision ever'

The court heard both men took part in the operation to pay off debts.

McNeil’s defence agent Judith Reid she he made the "extremely foolish decision" to take up the opportunity to bring drugs to Shetland.

The solicitor described it as a "fight or flight decision" - but later said it was the "worst decision he will ever make".

Defence agent Tommy Allan, representing Bradley, said the value of drugs shocked his client.

He described the consequences as "devastating" and confirmed Bradley had since separated from his partner.

Sheriff Cruickshank said there needed to be a "fair and proportionate sentence".

He added that the pair needed to be punished - and that a message needed to get out that "this will not be tolerated".