Drug kingpin jailed for part in North East supply

A convicted drugs dealer freed early from jail has been imprisoned for nine years and eight months for his part in a plot supplying the North East

Anthony Shrimpton was snared after police seized more than £200,000 of drugs in the Aberdeen area.

The sting was carried out between November 2016 and March 2017 and involved drug recoveries in the Aberdeen area as well as Tarland, Aberdeenshire, and a significant cash recovery in the Glasgow area.

Shrimpton, who was part of a gang caught after a large-scale probe, smiled and gave a thumbs up to family in the public benches as he was led away to begin his sentence.

Officers found hauls of cannabis and cocaine during the investigation.

Shrimpton was found guilty following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Prosecutor Alan Cameron revealed it was the 39-year-old's third serious drugs conviction.

This included Shrimpton – believed to be from the Liverpool area – getting a 10 year sentence in England in 2009 for being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.

He was freed in October 2015.

Shrimpton was also served with a Serious Crime Prevention Order.

He was found guilty of four drugs charges.

Four associates had previously pled guilty. They are John Campbell (49), Harald Reid (25), both of Aberdeen, as well as Lee Shrimpton (37), of Liverpool, admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

Lee Shrimpton also pled guilty to being involved in cocaine supply.

Elliot Edwards (22), of Liverpool, admitted to a Proceeds of Crime charge of having almost £30,000 at a Yates pub in Glasgow city centre.

Yesterday judge Lord Matthews jailed Campbell for three years and one month and Reid for three years and seven months.

He told them: “I don't intend to give a lecture on the court's attitude to drugs, you all know it.”

Edwards and Lee Shrimpton will be sentenced on February 28.