A drug trafficker who was caught with cocaine worth £32,000 on the streets after a police raid was jailed for five years and three months yesterday.
Peter Walters was found standing in front of a table containing a quantity of the Class A drug and a mixing agent wearing a pair of rubber gloves.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the father-of-two had been placed under surveillance in Aberdeen after information was received by police.
On October 11 last year he went into 8 Skene House, in the city’s Whitehall Place with another man.
The room in the complex of serviced apartments that Walters, 31, entered had been booked for one night.
Police went into the room using a key and found Walters with the drugs.
Officers found a spoon, knife, digital scales, cut plastic bags, a measuring jug and glass on the table along with cocaine and the bulking agent benzocaine.
Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC said: “These items are all consistent with the preparation and division of cocaine into smaller amounts for sale.”
More than £1700 in cash was on another table along with ten knotted bags of cocaine.
Mr Prentice said: “If sold in one gram deals the cocaine seized would have a potential street value of £32,100.”
Walters, of Harcort Street, Liverpool, earlier admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine on October 11 last year. Lord Turnbull told Walters that he would have faced a seven-year prison term but for his guilty plea.
The judge told him he was “a principle participant” in the drug supply operation and expected to benefit from it.
Lord Turnbull said the abuse of such drugs causes damage to family relationships and the lives of the individuals who use them and had consequences for the wider society.
“Those who supply these drugs turn their back on all of this and only look to the massive financial gains which they expect to make through their illegal conduct,” he said.
Following the sentencing, detective inspector Doug Norrie said: “Following an intelligence-led operation, officers seized a significant amount of drugs that were intended for the streets of Aberdeen.
“We welcome the sentence today handed to Peter Walters, meaning he can no longer be a menace to our society, supplying illegal drugs and causing misery to our communities affected by drug abuse.
“We will continue to target those who blight our communities with illegal drugs and anyone with information should contact police.”
Anyone who has information regarding the supply of drugs is urged to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.