Father dealt in drugs to help son

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A father who was caught with heroin as he tried to help his son over a drug debt has been jailed for three years.

James Craig used his flat in Dundee as a storage and distribution point for the Class A drug.

The 50-year-old was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh after he earlier admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin on 23 January 23.

The court heard his son, who lived in Birmingham, had a drug problem and had run up debts of about £2,500.

Police recovered seven-and-a-half ounces of heroin with a potential street value of £35,000 from Craig.

'No' financial gain

Defence counsel Jonathan Crowe told the court that the unemployed labourer had "let his heart rule his head" and had the taken the offer of a quick solution in a bid to help his son.

"The drugs were dropped off by a man in league with drug dealers in Birmingham," he said.

Mr Crowe added: "He stood to make no financial gain whatsoever. He was only involved to help his son."

Judge Lord Kinclaven told Craig, formerly of Dundee's Clepington Street, that a jail sentence was the only option.

He added: "You entered into an arrangement whereby you allowed your flat to be a store and distribution point for drugs."