British Broadcasting Corporation

watch live BBC NEWS CHANNEL
News Front Page
World
UK
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Scotland politics
Wales
Business
Politics
Health
Education
Science & Environment
Technology
Entertainment
Also in the news
-----------------
Video and Audio
-----------------
Have Your Say
Magazine
In Pictures
Country Profiles
Special Reports

Related BBC sites

Site Version
Page last updated at 16:51 GMT, Thursday, 9 October 2008 17:51 UK
E-mail this to a friend Printable version

Drugs courier caught on A1 jailed

Jedburgh Sheriff Court - Crown copyright image
Burge was jailed for 26 months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court

A man caught ferrying drugs between Newcastle and Edinburgh has been jailed for two years and four months.

Malcolm Burge, 27, from Heaton, near Newcastle, was stopped by police on the A1 in the Borders who found cannabis and diazepam in the boot of his car.

He had previously admitted committing the offence on 22 November last year.

Jedburgh Sheriff Court was told Burge agreed to courier the drugs through a "misplaced sense of loyalty" in a bid to clear his father's drug debts.

The court heard Burge had been severely beaten twice, suffering a broken jaw and fractured nose.

Violent trade

It was also told his father, currently serving a three-year jail term, had been in solitary confinement at his own request for the past year following threats.

Burge refused to name two men, one described as a notorious criminal, who asked him to drive to Edinburgh and await further instructions.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond said the consignment - worth about £50,000 - was intended to feed the drugs market in the capital.

He said the circumstances of the case only served to illustrate the violence and evil which existed in the trade.

He added that an appropriate sentence would have been four years imprisonment but he recognised Burge's early plea and the fact he had no previous convictions relating to drugs.

E-mail this to a friend Printable version

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Scottish Courts
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

TOP SOUTH OF SCOTLAND STORIES
Cannabis factory found in village
Second icy night looms for homes
Triple fatal crash sentences cut

FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS
Commandos with sniffer dogs outside the Taj Mahal Hotel Intel questions
Attacks in Mumbai highlight Indian security failings
Zimbabweans carrying buckets of water on their heads 'Too much to take'
Harare diarist tells of no water, no cash and army riot
US flag at Guantanamo Bay detention camp 'Stain on America'
Prosecutor tells BBC why he had to quit Guantanamo
Skip to top

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Explore the BBC

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific