Fifty Years for Drug Ring Run From Jail
A drugs gang including a convicted killer who ran a £1million heroin ring from his prison cell have been jailed for a total of almost 50 years.
A drugs gang including a convicted killer who ran a £1million heroin ring from his prison cell have been jailed for a total of almost 50 years.
Murderer Stephen Nisbet used a secret stash of mobile phones inside HMP Edinburgh to arrange drug deals across Scotland.
His businessman brother James Nisbet set a up a supposed recycling firm as a front to help flood the country with heroin.
But, the duo - along with a team of couriers - were snared when detectives swooped in January last year following a massive police probe.
It lead to the brothers being convicted of supplying heroin following a lengthy trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Passing sentences totalling 48 years and 10 months, judge Lord Armstrong said the men had been involved in an operation which was "organised and planned."
He added: "The courts must take full and proper account of the widespread harm that is caused by the supply and abuse of controlled drugs."
Stephen Nisbet is already serving an 18-year sentence after being convicted of murder in 2003.
Lord Armstrong described him as the "principal figure" and jailed him for 12 years, to begin after his current minimum prison sentence ends.
His brother was jailed for 10 years.
Co-accused Ronald Harrison and Allan Holland were also found guilty of being concerned in the supply of heroin although had lesser roles.
John McMahon, David Milne and Robert Borland all earlier admitted to related drug charges.
Each of the jail sentences the men received was between four and eight years for their involvement.
A jury heard how Stephen Nisbet orchestrated a lucrative crime network despite being locked up in HMP Edinburgh.
Away from the gaze of prison guards, he had access to mobile phones with up to 10 different numbers.
This enabled him to set-up what prosecutors called "a family drug dealing business" between June 2013 and January last year.
His elder brother James formed a firm called Platinum Waste Solutions - close to the family cottage in Shotts, North Lanarkshire.
But, the trial heard this was a "front" to distribute heroin throughout the country.
Police soon got wind of the operation and watched as drug deals were carried out across Scotland - including in Dundee, Fife and Lanarkshire.
James Nisbet was spotted meeting couriers. A number of arrests were made, but police continued their surveillance of Nisbet.
Officers then raided his property in late January 2014. No drugs were found there.
The dad gave evidence during the trial, but denied his company was involved in anything criminal.
His lawyer Jim Wallace asked Nisbet: "The suggestion will be that Platinum Waste is a front for a drug dealing operation."
Nisbet: "Not worth a tuppence ha'penny - It is a firm that was earning money and going from strength to strength."
He claimed police were "mistaken" when they clocked him with a courier in December 2013.
James Nisbet also insisted that another meeting with a man linked to the brothers was to discuss the sale of a van.
He went on to claim a visit to the home of associate Ronald Harrison was to buy a dog on behalf of his killer brother.
This was despite him being seen with a drugs consignment that he had hid under the bonnet of his vehicle.
Nisbet later told the jury: "I have never supplied drugs - I have not had anything to do with them in my life."
He also claimed he had not visited his brother Stephen in prison for a number of years.
But, in his closing speech to the jury, prosecutor Ian Wallace said the Nisbets were the "main players" in the crime.
Mr Wallace added: "This was a very large drug supply operation - organised and operated from Edinburgh prison."
He went on: "Stephen Nisbet was controlling - he was using phones that were orchestrating what was happening outside."
The total value of value of heroin seized during the investigation was around £1.1m.
A separate consignment of around £56,000 of amphetamine was also made.
The Nisbets were each convicted of three charges including supplying heroin and "directing others to commit a serious offence".
Stephen Nisbet was locked up for a minimum 18 years in 2003 for his part in the murder of 37 year-old David James.
Mr James was thrown from a first floor window of a flat in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire before being bludgeoned to death.
A judge told Nisbet at the time that he had committed "the most brutal murder".
Two other thugs were also locked up for the killing.