Taxi driver used flat as “safe house”

Dec 30 2011

A PERTH taxi driver who allowed his flat to be used as a “safe house” for the storage of almost £8000-worth of cocaine faces a jail term next month.

Perth Sheriff Court was told three-times married Michael Craig had accrued “substantial debt” before police raided his then home in Tay Street, just yards from the court.

Craig wasn’t in when officers armed with a search warrant went to the property.

He turned up during the course of the search which led to the discovery of 205g of the Class A drug, with a street value of around £7840.

Craig, now of Bracken Brae, Perth, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine on June 3.

When interviewed, he said he didn’t know to whom the cocaine belonged and it had been in his house for around a week.

Depute fiscal Alan Kempton said: “I understand the defence position is he was using his house as a safe house for the cocaine. There’s no Crown evidence which would contradict that.”

Solicitor David Holmes said the accused has no previous convictions and his involvement was “restricted” to another unnamed person leaving the drugs at his house for a short period.

“At no stage did he have anything to do with the item,” he said.

Craig’s bail was continued. He will be sentenced on January 25.