A COCAINE dealer who ran a ‘high level’ drug peddling operation from his Larkfield home has been jailed for nearly three years.

Colin Telfer – who also sold amphetamine from the Devon Road drugs den – had a ‘large quantity’ of suspect material and nearly £15,000 in cash at the property when police raided it.

Sheriff Thomas Ward branded the 30-year-old Greenock dad-of-three a dealer in ‘misery’ as he sentenced him to 32-and-a-half months imprisonment – and told him that it would have been 42 months had he not pleaded guilty.

Our sister paper the Greenock Telegraph reports the sheriff told Telfer: “This town is awash with drugs, peddled by people like you.

“It is clear from what was found in your property that you made substantial amounts of money from being concerned in the supply of these drugs.”

Telfer – who appeared on the face of it to be a respected self-employed joinery business owner – had no idea that police had been monitoring his illegal activities and he wasn’t home when officers swooped last October.

A specialist drugs enforcement team also found two Rolex watches at the house – one of which was genuine and worth an estimated £8,000.

Prosecutor Pamela Brady told Greenock Sheriff Court: “There were three separate bags containing white powder and one container with white powder residue.

“A box contained a large quantity of white powder and a self-seal bag also had white powder within it.

“There was also a bag containing five smaller bags of white powder, and police found four sets of digital scales — each with white powder residue thereon.”

Defence lawyer Michael Poggi told the court how Telfer described himself as ‘a cog in the wheel’ of the wider trade in controlled drugs. But the solicitor conceded: “Mr Telfer was not involved with street deal quantities. His involvement was at a higher level and I can’t shy away from that.” 

The court heard how benzocaine – an anaesthetic compound which is mixed with cocaine and amphetamine in order to dilute the illegal drugs and maximise their value – was also seized, along with a total of £14,800 in cash.

Mixing bowls, a food blender and a plastic cup – all containing white powder residue – were discovered too. Some £4,000 in cash had been vacuum-packed into £1,000 bundles in one room with £2,400 lying loose. Officers found £7,790 in one bedroom and £610 in another bedroom.
Cocaine valued at £800 and amphetamine worth £890 were seized at the time of the raid.
Telfer – a keen poker player – had previously been facing High Court charges as a result of the October 9 drugs bust but the case was remitted to sheriff court level following examination.

He pleaded guilty on an ‘abbreviated indictment’ to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and amphetamine.

In jailing Telfer, Sheriff Ward, pictured below, told him: “You have pleaded guilty to two serious charges, being concerned in the supply of cocaine — a Class A drug — and amphetamine, a Class B drug.

“Those who engage in this trade can expect severe sentences. I consider that there is no other method of dealing with you otherwise than by a sentence of imprisonment.”

The Crown has now raised an action to seize any profit and assets accrued by Telfer as a result of his dealing operation.

Prosecutor Mrs Brady stated: “The accused has potentially significant assets in the form of bank accounts and property and the Crown moves for confiscation of these.

“The Proceeds of Crime Unit is currently compiling a full financial statement.”

Solicitor Mr Poggi said that he has been instructed to oppose the move because Telfer claims to have made money from gambling and from his joinery business.

The lawyer also told the court that his client ‘has not been making necessary declarations’ to the taxman regarding his income.

A hearing on the motion to seize Telfer’s assets is due to take place at a future date.