An Edinburgh drug dealer has failed to have his prison sentence cut after serving time for his role in transporting cocaine.
James Elder , 26 , was given a two year sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh in June 2020 for participating in the drugs trade with his co-accused Alan Boulter, 35.
The pair were both arrested in June 2019 after officers observed their movements for weeks, and finally caught Elder delivering a huge quantity of cocaine to Boulter's flat.
After their arrest, both of the men were found to have a hoard of illegal goods at each of their homes as an investigation was launched.
Boulter was found to have two mobile phones, £2,000 in cash and keys to a flat in Edinburgh on his person.
The keys were for Boulter’s house in Westfield Court, Edinburgh, and a police search team found more than a kilo and a half of the Class A drug, worth nearly £200,000 on the streets, along with scales contaminated with cocaine.
When officers arrested Elder, they found £7,000 of cocaine in his Audi car.
After pleaded guilty to being involved in the supply of narcotics, Boulter was given a five year and four month custodial term.
However, Elder, of Huron Avenue, Livingston, then launched an appeal against his sentence that was heard by judges on Friday.
Defence advocate David Taylor told the court that the sentence imposed on his client was too harsh.
Mr Taylor said that Lord Fairley - the judge who imposed the term - didn’t properly consider Elder’s background before imposing the term. He said Elder should have been given a non custodial disposal.
However, appeal judges Lord Pentland and Lord Menzies rejected the submissions.
Lord Pentland said: “We are not satisfied a non custodial sentence would have been the correct disposal in this case.
“The circumstances of this offence meant a non custodial sentence was not appropriate and a custodial term was amply deserved.”
