Jail for pensioner drugs courier

The case was heard at the High Court in Edinburgh

A pensioner who drove a consignment of drugs to Scotland in the boot of his car has been jailed for two years.

James Verge, from Paisley, was paid £400 to transport cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis with an estimated street value of £64,000 from Liverpool last year.

The 68-year-old's counsel, Paul McBride QC, told the High Court in Edinburgh that the first-time offender "bitterly regretted" what he had done.

He asked the judge not to jail his client, who was said to be suffering ill-health.

Cannabis was part of the seizure

But Lord Wheatley told Verge: "I have to take into account the fact that you involved yourself, and I must presume knew what you were doing, in the transportation of a significant quantity of drugs.

"I regret I feel it necessary that a prison sentence must follow on a crime of this seriousness."

The court heard that Verge admitted what he had done and had co-operated with the police.

Mr McBride accepted that a prison sentence would normally be passed for the drugs offences, but pointed out: "One is dealing with a 68-year-old man who has never been before a court before."

He said that Verge, who suffers from high blood pressure and had suffered a stroke, would be suitable for community service, as an alternative to custody.