Snake liar drug dealer ordered to pay prosecutors

A drug dealer who lied to police when claimed to have made £40,000 from selling exotic snakes has been ordered to pay prosecutors £2,305.

Prosecution lawyers used proceeds of crime legislation to get the sum from Ian Austin,38, a Liverpudlian crook who was jailed for 43 months last month at the High Court in Glasgow.

Judge Lady Rae heard how Austin and co-accused Daniel Adams,25, were caught with cannabis resin with a maximum street value of £320,000.

Police investigating the pair discovered a shoe box containing £40,000 in used bank notes. Officers discovered Austin's fingerprints on the box and he claimed he worked as a snake breeder.

However, Austin and Adams, of Aberdeen, later pleaded guilty to being involved in the supply of an illegal drug. Lady Rae jailed Adams, a dad of two, for 58 months.

On Monday, lawyers acting for the pair told Lady Wise at the High Court in Edinburgh that they had settled the proceeds of crime action brought against them by the Crown.

They told Lady Wise that the two men had agreed to hand over £2,305 each.

She said: "I will give authority to the motion brought before the court."

During proceedings earlier this year, the High Court in Glasgow heard how police received information that an organised crime gang was operating in the Aberdeen area and was selling narcotics.

Officers then set up an undercover operation to snare Adams and Austin.

The court heard how Adams, a dad of two, was seen leaving a flat in Balgownie Court, Aberdeen, carrying a rucksack and giving it to Austin, who drove off.

Austin's car was later stopped and searched and £39,920 in cash was found in a shoe box inside the rucksack.

During a police interview Austin initially told police: "I breed Boa Python snakes and came from Liverpool to Aberdeen to supply a man with snakes."

Adams was caught on the M74 near Bothwell, Lanarkshire,. When the car in which he was a passenger in was searched, 97 kilos of cannabis resin was discovered.

Passing sentence, Lady Rae told the men: "This is an evil trade that you are involved in. Lives are blighted by drugs.

"You both played an important role in this trade. What must your children think of you both? What sort of example are you giving to youngsters?

"I see the misery of drugs day in and day out in this job and it is not a pleasant experience."

On Monday, advocate David Moggach, who was acting for Adams, told Lady Wise: "Resolution in this case has been achieved."