Drug couriers behind bars while their wives give birth

The pair were stopped at the Lerwick ferry terminal.

Two drug couriers have been sentenced to long prison sentences, leaving their partners to raise newborn babies alone.

Connor McNeil, 28, and Ross Bradley, 37, were sentenced to 27 and 30 months in prison respectively for their involvement in drug supply following a sentencing hearing at Lerwick Sheriff Court today (Wednesday).

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank told the men he wanted to punish them for their involvement in a “major” drugs enterprise and wanted to send the message that such criminal activity “will not be tolerated” in Shetland.

The court previously heard how police stopped the pair in a car leaving the NorthLink ferry at Lerwick on January 18 after receiving intelligence that they were carrying drugs.

Officers seized two large boxes containing around seven kilos of cannabis, potentially worth £103,740, and 124 grams of cocaine, which could be worth £15,000 when sold in the smallest deals.

At a hearing last month, McNeil, of Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire, admitted being involved in the supply of cannabis and possessing tongs, while Bradley admitted both drug charges.

Both men were held in custody awaiting sentencing.

Returning to today’s hearing via video link, defense agent Judith Reid, on behalf of McNeil, sought to argue there were “exceptional” circumstances for her client to avoid a prison sentence.

Since being jailed, McNeil said her partner went into labor several weeks early. Ms Reid said there were photographs of the baby in a special care unit where the baby needed help breathing and feeding.

The couple also have a four-year-old son with severe autism who requires 24-hour care.

Ms Reid said her partner was “distraught” and seriously worried about how he would care for both children on his own.

“The court learned today that no matter what Mr. McNeil did, taking part in this venture was the worst decision he would ever make,” he said.

Ms Reid said her client joined the business to pay off a £1,000 debt he accumulated after losing his job as an apprentice electrician just before Christmas last year.

Ms Reid, who had a traumatic childhood with drug-addict parents and a mother who died when she was young, said her client “panicked” that his child would face the same financial difficulties as he did.

He said it was an “extremely stupid” decision and claimed his client was unaware of the high value of the drugs involved.

The attorney acknowledged that McNeil knew he was engaging in illegal activity and was not forced to do so.

However, when he saw the amounts involved, he said he realized there would be “more powerful people in the chain” and that there would be repercussions if he backed out.

Ms Reid said her client had managed to find another company where he could complete his five-year apprenticeship, but this required him to avoid prison.

He said McNeil has the capacity to be a “responsible tax-paying member of society” if he maintains his freedom and instead proposes community savings.

But if he is jailed, he said, his two children with special needs will be left with a single parent to care for them until he leaves prison, unemployed and without any skills.

Defense agent Tommy Allan represents Bradley, of Bishopbriggs in East Dunbartonshire. He said his client was “shocked” when he learned the value of the drugs and argued that it was others who profited.

“It doesn’t take much to understand that the people who are making real money from this venture will not be in a car full of drugs on a boat,” he said.

Mr Allan said his client, a former soldier with PTSD, took part in the crime because he owed money and was “offered the chance to make a quick buck”.

“Unfortunately this was very bad for him,” he said.

Mr Allan said Bradley had recently married but separated following his conviction.

He said that Bradley’s partner was expecting their child in May, but the pregnancy was not going well and he would benefit from Bradley’s support.

The lawyer said Bradley had a daughter from a previous relationship staying with him and his wife and was concerned about how the child would be raised if she was returned to her mother.

Mr Allan said his client was also genuinely remorseful and suggested there were other sentencing options other than prison.

Sheriff Cruickshank said he had heard detailed requests for mitigation and would take into account the defendant’s personal circumstances.

But he said the mitigation did not reduce the amount of drugs the pair were trying to bring into Shetland.

He said anyone involved in drug supply and importation would be “severely punished”.