Dundee men who tried to have ecstasy posted to home jailed

Two Dundee men have been jailed after their bid to have a consignment of class A drugs posted to them from Amsterdam was foiled.

Arran Harrison and John Simpson were snared after cops found panicked texts between the pair when the package, containing over 300 ecstasy tablets, failed to turn up at Simpson's home in Dundee.

They had ordered the drugs from a source in the Netherlands - but it was intercepted by UK Border Force agents before it made it to Scotland.

A search found the pair had exchanged a series of text messages worrying about where the package had gone after it failed to materialise.

Now both have been jailed over the botched importation scheme.

Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told Dundee Sheriff Court: "The UK Border Force intercepted a package at their Coventry hub addressed to 'Emma Knockback' at an address in Dundee, the home of John Simpson.

"The parcel was sent from Amsterdam and was found to contain a number of tablets.

"They were tested and found to be ecstasy.

"Police searched John Simpson's home on December 24 2014 and found both accused there.

"Accused Simpson's phone was seized and examined with texts found between the two discussing the delivery of the package that was seized.

"A search was undertaken at Harrison's home and his phone was also seized.

"Conversations were found between him and in individual regarding getting them ecstasy to sell on further.

"They discussed how many pills they could obtain and how much to sell them for.

"Messages between the two accused were uncovered showing Harrison asked Simpson to have the package sent to his address.

"Messages were also exchanged discussing the fact the package ordered had not yet arrived.

"By then it had obviously been intercepted.

"The package contained 306 ecstasy tablets with a street value of £3060."

Harrison, who's 23, pleaded guilty on indictment to being concerned in the supply of drugs between December 2 and December 24 2014.

Simpson, who's 27, admitted fraudulently evading the prohibition on the importation of drugs between December 9 and December 24 2014.

Solicitor advocate Jim Laverty, for Harrison, urged the court to allow Harrison to walk free so he could complete an apprenticeship in the oil industry.

He said: "There is a robust community sentence available in this case.

"He has a good work ethic and has led a pro-social life.

"This was an error of judgement."

John Boyle, for Simpson, added: "He had been asked to provide his address for this and had initially said no.

"He was asked again and relented. He was surprised when he saw the quantity that was sent."

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael jailed Harrison for 18 months and Simpson for 15 months.

He said: "Given the nature of this offence a custodial sentence is the only suitable disposal."