A former soldier who survived a high-profile helicopter crash has been jailed for six years after police seized a £1m heroin haul in Lanarkshire.
Gary Cowan, 32, was caught driving again to Scotland on the M74 close to Lesmahagow in June 2020.
He was in a van belonging to storage boss John Craig, 31, who was jailed for eight years after he helped organise the drug trafficking.
Obtain the Lanarkshire Dwell app immediately
The Lanarkshire Dwell app is offered to obtain now.
Get all of the information out of your space – in addition to options, leisure, sport and the most recent on Lanarkshire’s restoration from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.
The free obtain options the most recent breaking information and unique tales, and means that you can customise your web page to the sections that matter most to you.
Head to the App Retailer and by no means miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android
Each have been immediately sentenced on the Excessive Courtroom in Glasgow.
That they had been convicted in April of worrying within the provide of heroin. Each had successfully blamed one another.
Cowan's lawyer instructed the courtroom the ex-Royal Regiment of Scotland soldier continues to endure the "trauma" of an Military helicopter accident in Catterick Garrison, Yorkshire in 2007 by which a detailed buddy was killed.
Cowan, of Paisley, Renfrewshire, turned to crime through the first pandemic lockdown in June 2020.
Jurors heard how the eight kilogramme drug haul - a few of which was of excessive purity - may fetch probably in "extra" of £1m.
Cowan claimed he had been requested to drive to Liverpool to gather automobile components by Porsche-driving Craig, who runs a storage in Airdrie.
He stated he met a person in Merseyside and left him for 10 or quarter-hour with the van.
As he later returned north, as much as 10 officers and three police automobiles swooped on Cowan on the M74.
The dad-of-five was then arrested after the medicine haul was discovered hidden within the van.
His lawyer Billy Lavelle requested him: "What was your ideas sitting within the cell?"
Cowan: "I sat there a lot of the day considering: 'What was occurring?' I used to be in shock."
Craig, of Toryglen in Glasgow, additionally gave proof and insisted Cowan - who he knew from a automobile fans membership - had requested for a mortgage of his works van.
He claimed to solely concentrate on any concern when Cowan had not returned with the car and his telephone was then tracked to Motherwell police station in Lanarkshire.
His advocate George Gebbie put him: "Do you know about any medicine?"
Craig: "No."
The courtroom heard the heroin was discovered stashed in a padlocked compartment of the van.
However Craig stated he had purchased the car from a joiner, who had constructed the conceal to cease his instruments being stolen.
Nonetheless, it emerged detectives had been preserving tabs on Craig.
Lanarkshire Dwell Fb
The courtroom heard immediately how Cowan had joined the military at 17 earlier than the helicopter tragedy ended his navy profession and left him needing a number of operations in addition to counselling.
His solicitor-advocate Mr Lavelle stated: "He was concerned in a deadly accident.
"It was a fairly traumatic occasion and continues to have an effect on him. His companion is understandably involved about him."
The listening to was instructed each he and Craig preserve their innocence.
Sentencing, Lord Armstrong stated he was imposing totally different jail phrases as Craig was concerned within the "planning and logistics of the provision operation".
Craig was additionally hit with a three-year Critical Crime Prevention Order - typically described as a 'super-Asbo' - which can assist monitor him when he's freed.
*Do not miss the most recent headlines from round Lanarkshire. Signal as much as our newsletters right here.
And do you know Lanarkshire Dwell had its personal app? Obtain yours free of charge right here.