A Moray man who hid thousands of pounds worth of cocaine in his granny’s attic was jailed yesterday.
Paul Murray’s £6,000 stash of the Class A drug was discovered by police after he was reported missing from the home he shared with his grandparents in Elgin.
Fiscal Kevin Corrins said the drugs were found when the accused, who was raised by his grandparents Catherine and Norman Murray, threw such a severe tantrum they contacted the police after he stormed out of the house.
Investigations revealed that the 27-year-old was intending to sell quantities of the substance with friend Steven Clark, 28.
Both men admitted being involved in the supply of class A drugs between December 2014 and last January.
Mr Corrins told Elgin Sheriff Court that police uncovered incriminating text message exchanges between the two men, clearly outlining their plans to profit from selling cocaine.
Murray’s agent, solicitor, Alan Findlay, said his client was only the “storer” of the drugs, and was not directly involved in plans to sell them.
He added that Murray, who he previously described as “a chronic cocaine addict”, was now “attempting to become drug free”.
Acting for Clark, solicitor, Stephen Carty, said his client had “got in way over his head” in trying to sell cocaine.
Sheriff Marion McDonald said, considering the amount of drugs involved, she was compelled to enforce prison terms on both men.
Murray, who appeared on remand in relation to a separate matter, will spend the next 12 months and 21 days behind bars.
Clark, of 4 Inchbroom Walk in Elgin, was sentenced to eight months in jail.