Jail term for heroin 'middle man'

Woods admitted his part in a drug trafficking gang in Dumfries

A heroin trafficking gang member has been jailed after he admitted delivering drugs for a major dealer.

Euan Woods, 44, of Selkirk Road, Moffat, was estimated to have put heroin worth up to £43,000 onto the streets of Dumfries in a single month.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard he acted as a "middle man" to pass the drugs from the main dealer.

Lord Uist jailed Woods for two years and said it would have been three years but for his guilty plea.

"You were acting as a middle man," said the judge.

"Your function was to pass on the drugs from the main dealer to others for onward distribution."

Lord Uist said Woods found himself before the court because of his own drug habit.

"I note you have now managed to wean yourself off of heroin and hope you continue to head a drug-free existence in future," he told him.

However, the judge added he had to take into account the public interest and the need to suppress the drug trade.

"Fortunately for the public the police brought the activities of this gang to an end," he added.

Repay debt

Van driver Woods admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin in Dumfries between September 22 and October 20 in 2006.

He told police that he had been delivering large quantities for dealer George Dempster to repay a debt he had run up to feed his own habit.

Dempster was jailed in March 2007 for seven and a half years for his part in the heroin trafficking.

The Crown accepted that Woods was not supplying in order to make substantial sums of money and that it was done to repay the debt.

Defence counsel George Gebbie said Woods had taken substantial steps to rehabilitate himself and had undergone testing to show he was free of drugs.