Merseyside duo jailed as Inverness police raid finds cocaine, cannabis and heroin

Two Merseyside drug dealers have been jailed for a total of 48 months after being caught in a police raid with over £10,000 worth of cocaine, cannabis and heroin.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 28-year-old Liam Riley, described as a Perth prisoner, had been previously bailed to stay out of Scotland but returned to Inverness in December 18, last year to restart his illicit trade.

His lawyer, Graham Mann told Sheriff Gary Aitken that his 28-year-old client was currently serving a five-year prison sentence for another serious drug offence and expected a period of jail after admitting supplying cocaine and breach of the court order charges.

Riley's co-accused, 28-year-old James Keating also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and dealing cocaine and heroin from a guest house in Ardconnel Street, Inverness.

A mobile phone recovered during the police search was later analysed and it contained messages signed off by Scouse JJ - a name linked to Liverpool drugs gangs.

Riley had 21 months added to his current sentence which began earlier this month and Keating was jailed for 27 months but backdated to his date of remand on December 20 last year.

Fiscal depute Pauline Gair told the court that over 450 packages containing 82.8 grams of cocaine, 6.93 grams of heroin and three grams of cannabis were discovered in the police raid. In total, they were worth £10,886.

It was Riley's third similar conviction - the two previous offences attracting prison terms which he is still serving.

Keating's solicitor advocate Mike Chapman said that his client had been brought up in an area of Liverpool where drug use was rife and had begun smoking cannabis at the age of nine.

By the age of 12, Mr Chapman added, his client was using cocaine and it escalated from there.

"When he was 17, he witnessed his brother being stabbed and then viciously assaulted and his drug use worsened," he added.

Sheriff Aitken asked if the assault was as a result of a drugs matter. Mr Chapman replied: "Yes."

Both agents confirmed that pressure was put on the two accused due to drug debts.

Sheriff Aitken commented: "There is an endless supply of young men in Scotland and England prepared to get involved and they are utterly, utterly expendable to the people who make all the money.

"There is always someone below themselves they can lean on but someone above them who can lean on them too."