£16k heroin courier jailed after A9 seizure
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A DRUGS courier bound for the Highlands who was caught ferrying a £16,000 heroin stash has been jailed for a year.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard Laura Beckwith made the drugs run from her home in Liverpool to clear gambling debts.
The 28-year-old from Liverpool admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin at the Ralia Cafe car park on the A9.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood heard the 579g drugs haul had a street value of between £14,000 and £16,000.
Solicitor Willie Young said Beckwith was a gambling addict and "her understanding was the debt she had would be repaid for this one trip.
"She had borrowed significant sums to fund her gambling addiction which she has had for a number of years. One of her close friends died and she returned to her addiction."
She thought the package contained cannabis.
"But clearly she was in possession of a significant quantity of a Class A drug. She is remorseful and ashamed of her stupidity and naïvety."
Jailing her Sheriff Fleetwood said there was no alternative to custody.
