A MAN who masterminded a £337,000 drugs supply network from his home has been jailed for eight years.

Robert Ross, 30, was snared at the property in Renfrew after police carried out an intelligence-led raid in February last year.

The dealer also directed others by phone to store and transport diamorphine to a safe house in Johnstone between September 2020 and February 2022, ordering some of the drugs to be kept at co-accused Edward Wilson's home in Paisley.

At the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, Lord Matthews sentenced Ross to eight years behind bars after he admitted running the illegal operation while Wilson was sentenced to four years in prison after also pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of the class A substance.

Passing judgement, Lord Matthews told the duo that he believed the drugs recovered were just ‘a snapshot’ of what had been going on.

He said: “Mr Ross, you directed others in the supply of diamorphine worth a considerable amount of money. A search of your home Mr Wilson, on 22 February last year, found nearly four kilos of diamorphine worth between about £90,000 and £337,247.

“This was obviously a snapshot of what was involved. The narrative indicated that you Mr Ross directed the movement of diamorphine worth around £360,000 over a period of months.

“Trying to work out what the actual operation was worth would be little more than guesswork. That goes for both of you. In the circumstances, I shall simply proceed on the basis that this was a major one.”

Ross claimed the drugs ring had netted a large sum of money in a short period of time but the judge said he was unconvinced.

Lord Matthews added: “I have listened carefully to what has been said on your behalf and taken your records into account.

“The major problem for you Mr Ross is obviously your conviction in this court in November 2016 for being concerned in the supply of cannabis resin and amphetamine. You received a sentence of imprisonment for four years - but here you are again.

“You have also been in prison Mr Wilson for offences of violence and breaches of public order, but these are historic and this your first only drugs conviction since 2008.”

The Gazette:

Lord Matthews also told the pair that their early guilty pleas had saved them from lengthier jail terms, adding: “Mr Ross, I sentence you to imprisonment for eight years, backdated to June 8, 2022. Had the case gone to trial, the sentence would have been 12 years.

“Mr Wilson, I sentence you to imprisonment for four years to run from April 4, 2023. Had the case gone to trial, the sentence would have been six."

Ross was snared after a raid on his home recovered an iPhone which contained hundreds of incriminating messages between him and associates where he discussed high-end goods such as watches and designer clothing.

He also referred to "big London yardies" who were teaching him to cook crack cocaine.

The court previously heard that police received intelligence during Operation Tricera relating to large-scale manufacturing and distribution of drugs in Scotland.

Prosecutor Lindsay Dalziel said: "It was from his address that Ross issued many of the instructions to others, in the form of verbal instructions over mobile text and WhatsApp messages."

The seized phone showed that Ross had contacted an associate in Broxburn 334 times between November and December 2021.

Ms Dalziel added: "In the messages were conversations relating to the sale and production of controlled drugs and the facilitation of drugs and money being transported between the two."

Ross - nicknamed Junior - used street terms such as 'poly', 'bottoms' and 'dog' as well as recognised cash amounts in terms of weight.

It was noted that he directed others to store diamorphine at an address in Johnstone and transport it to Wilson's address in Paisley.

Miss Dalziel said: "Messages also showed a number of photographs sent by Ross featuring large bundles of cash, discussion of high-value goods such as quad bikes, watches and designer items."

Cash totalling £1790 was also recovered from the property.

When Wilson's home was raided, more than 10 separate packages filled with the drug were recovered of varying weights and purities.

Inside a JD Sports bag, there were two taped packs with an image of a tiger's head and the phrase 'Tiger Brick' on it. It was later found to contain diamorphine.