BROTHER AND SISTER DEALERS JAILED

A Fort William brother and sister were behind bars last night after
being told by a sheriff that public opinion demanded severe sentences
for those involved in the supply of drugs.

Andrew Cairns, 24, was jailed for three years and his heroin-addicted
sister, Andrea, 30, for two-and-a-half years by Sheriff Mairi Stephen
at Fort William.

She told them: "Those who choose to become involved in supplying drugs
will be dealt with severely as public opinion demands."

A jury last month found Andrew Cairns, of 47 Ross Place, and Andrea,
of 44 Kennedy Road, guilty by a majority verdict of being concerned in
the supply of heroin to others on the A82 Glasgow-Fort William road at
Onich on March 28.

Andrew Cairns had also denied intentionally obstructing three police
officers by attempting to drive away from the scene to prevent them
searching the car and its occupants, and possessing cannabis at his
home.

Both charges were withdrawn by the Crown midway through his trial and
he was formally acquitted of them by Sheriff Stephen. He also changed
his plea and admitted possessing a prohibited weapon, a CS gas
canister, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment to run
concurrently with the three years on the drugs charge.

The court had been told that Andrea Cairns had five previous
convictions for possession. Her brother had twice been convicted for
possession and once for possession with intent to supply.

The two were stopped by plain-clothed drugs squad officers as they
returned by car from Glasgow.

In an elaborate surveillance operation, four unmarked police cars
boxed in their vehicle when it stopped at roadworks at Onich.

One wrap of heroin was found in Andrea Cairns's jacket, and an
intimate body search carried out later by a doctor revealed
10.5grammes of heroin in a container, with a street value of up to
UKP2,800.

The court had been told that Andrea Cairns, who did not give evidence
at her trial, was a heavy heroin user and that the drugs were for use
by herself and her boyfriend.

Her brother told the jury he was unaware she had heroin concealed
inside her until drugs squad officers ambushed their car.

He denied suggestions that the CS gas canister was to protect his
drugs running, and said he carried it because he regarded himself as
being in danger from a Mallaig man following a relationship with his
girlfriend.

Frederick Main, representing Andrea Cairns, told the sheriff that
since being stopped by police she had made serious efforts to wean
herself off heroin.

David McNeil, for Andrew Cairns, told the court: "The drug culture
seems to have been adopted by his age group and generation and he has
become entangled in that culture."

The sentences have been welcomed by police, who last week seized drugs
with a street value of more than UKP300,000 in a series of raids in
the Inverness and Fort William areas.

Concerned Highland councillors in Lochaber have also recently called
for more cash to be made available to police to mount surveillance
operations.