A man and woman who were caught with over £250,000 worth of Class A drugs have been jailed.
Lee Middlemass (25) and Jo-Anna Wallace (21) appeared for sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh today (Thursday, October 17), where they received custodial sentences of three years and nine months and two years respectively. The couple had previously pled guilty to offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act on September 4.
They were both arrested by police who stopped their vehicle on the M8 in October last year. A search of the van they were driving resulted in the seizure of a kilo of heroin, and two kilos of cocaine.
A subsequent search of a property in Dalkeith led to the recovery of a further 1.3 kilos of cocaine, along with thousands of pounds in cash, a hydraulic press, and other items used in the production and supply of drugs.
Detective Chief Inspector Colin Boyle, from Police Scotland’s Specialist Crime Division, said: “Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe, and this includes seizing drugs that are destined for sale in local communities, and arresting those responsible for their supply.
“Lee Middlemass and Jo-Anna Wallace were caught transporting a large quantity of Class A drugs, with the intention of making significant profit at the expense of our communities, where their sale causes so much harm and misery.
“They were arrested as a result of an investigation launched in response to information received about their involvement in serious and organised criminality, and the sentences that have been handed down today reflect the serious nature of their offending.
“Anyone involved in drug dealing or any other type of associated serious and organised criminality should be in no doubt that Police Scotland is committed to removing drugs from our streets, and bringing those responsible for their supply to justice.
“We will always act on information we receive from the public regarding drug dealers operating in local communities, and I would urge people to play their part in making our communities safer by reporting any information they have to Police Scotland on 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
