Man with four previous drug dealing jail terms caught with Class A haul in home

A man has been jailed for being involved in the supplying thousands of pounds worth of heroin and cocaine.

Jonathan Reed, 51, was caught by police on two occasions with significant quantities of the Class A substances.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Reed had served four previous jail terms for drug dealing.

Prosecutor Dale Hughes told judge John Morris KC that officers arrived at Reed’s home on August 23, 2020 and found coke with a maximum street value of £2,000 at the property. They also recovered heroin with a maximum street value of £2,030.

The advocate depute then told the court that on May 17, 2022, police went to another house that Reed lived at with a woman who he was in a relationship with at the time.

Mr Hughes added: “Upon attendance, officers could hear sounds of a male and female shouting from within that address. Police thereafter entered the property using common law powers.

“Drugs were on view in the flat.”

Detectives then seized more narcotics – the cocaine recovered from this address had a maximum street value of £4,640 whilst the heroin recovered was worth £660.

Police also seized a black Nokia mobile phone and the officers found a text message from somebody wanting to buy from Reed.

Mr Hughes added: “In this message the person using the mobile telephone is referred to as Jon which is consistent with the accused being called Jonathan Reed.”

Mr Hughes also said that during the earlier raid Reed’s DNA was found on a bag which contained drugs.

He added: “A Crown forensic biology report indicated that DNA lifts from the zip pulls on the wash bag matched Jonathan Reed’s DNA.”

The story emerged after Reed pleaded guilty to charges of being concerned in the supply of illegal drugs.

Judge Morris deferred sentence on Reed for reports into his background. Judge Morris remanded Reed, who will be sentenced next month, in custody.