A drug dealer has been locked up after thousands of pounds worth of illicit packages were hurled over the walls of Perth Prison.
Jack Boyd was snared by police after his DNA was found on parcels of heroin, cannabis and street Valium at the maximum security jail.
The 20-year-old insisted he did not throw the drugs into the prison – and had only visited Perth once – but he accepted he was involved in bagging them up.
He appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted being involved in supply of drugs at the jail between February and July 2019, when he was a teenager.
Sentencing him to 20 months detention, Sheriff Gillian Wade said: “Despite the version of events that you presented which is somewhat implausible, the DNA evidence clearly incriminates you.
“You are a young man but you have already accumulated a number of serious offences.
“I see no alternative to a period of detention, particularly given you are presented as ‘maximum risk’ of reoffending.”
The sheriff said the sentence would help “protect the public from the risk that you pose.”
Boyd, of Woodside Court, Coatbridge, will be placed on supervision for 10 months when he is released.
Packages intercepted
Fiscal depute Marie Lyons said staff at the jail found a large package covered in a black bag lying within the perimeter fence, just after 10am on February 5, 2019.
It contained 402 tablets of class C Etizolam – worth about £400 on the streets, but could fetch up to £1,000 behind bars.
“The accused’s DNA was found on the knot of the bag,” the prosecutor said.
On the morning of March 19, staff saw an “unidentified male” approach the prison wall and throw something over the fence.
Staff found a bag containing two bottles of Lucozade.
Inside was cannabis worth £5,000 and more Etizolam worth around £500.
Ms Lyons told the court: “Again, the accused’s DNA was found on the inside of the bag’s knot, as well as on the internal surface.”
The court heard that prison officers intercepted a suspicious parcel on July 24.
“It was addressed to a prisoner serving at the jail,” she said.
The parcel contained a hairbrush, which was X-rayed.
Insides, staff found a small bag stuffed with cannabis and street valium in a powder form worth nearly £600
Boyd’s DNA was found on the knot.
A fresh start
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “As he told social workers, he had only been in Perth on one occasion.
“He may have collected an item from one party and gave it to another, albeit not at the prison.”
Mr Holmes said: “At this time, he was taking drugs and valium and was living his life in a haze.
“Effectively, he has been involved in bagging up some of these items.”
Mr Holmes urged the court not to detain his client and said he had been free of valium and cocaine for two years.
“He has moved away from past associates and this has given him a fresh start,” he said.
The court heard Boyd had previous convictions involving knifes and had broken eight court orders.
Drone attempt
It is not the first time smugglers have tried to get drugs into the jail.
Paul Reilly and Michael Martin intended to get the drugs to Martin’s prisoner brother.
But the drone crashed and when police studied footage from its camera, they found images of both men.
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