Court told of 'spending spree' of man targeted in covert police operation

James Carlin, 24, had been the focus of Operation Domino, which involved an undercover policeman posing as a criminal to infiltrate drug dealers, a jury was told.

The two men had socialised together, and Carlin had been the officer's guest at a HibernianBarcelona football match.

The High Court in Edinburgh also heard that 1,790 in cash was found when officers raided Carlin's home, as well as paperwork for a short stay in Las Vegas. Also, he had paid more than 3,000 in cash for laser eye surgery, and almost 1,000 for a handbag, and had booked a 900 "match break package" for a game of football in Manchester.

Carlin, of Hay Gardens, Edinburgh, denies being concerned in the supplying of cocaine between January 2007 and February 2009.

The officer, known only as "Kev", gave evidence while obscured by screens from the public area of the court. In a north-east of England accent, he said he had been involved in undercover work for eight years and had been asked to assist Lothian and Borders Police in Operation Domino in autumn 2007. It ran for more than a year.

"It was an operation directed against organised crime involving the supply of controlled drugs," he said, adding that Carlin had been the subject of the operation.

He described how he was asked to start frequenting pubs in the Jock's Lodge and Northfield area of the city and get to know Carlin.

"I put out the story that I had problems from elsewhere and that is why I was stopping in Edinburgh. For want of a better way of expressing it, that I was involved in criminality," he explained.

Kev had frequented Scottie's bar, Northfield Broadway, and the nearby Jock's Lodge pub and met Carlin. Sometimes he was "wired" for audio recording, and on other occasions he took video film of meetings.

Kev said he sold Carlin a Playstation 3 for 200, and Carlin came to his flat another time to look at bulletproof vests.

"He came in… had a look at the body armour. He was not really interested. Myself, Tommy (another undercover officer) and James had a conversation regarding drugs… cocaine," added Kev. Carlin had asked how much they wanted and had stated: "It would not be me. It would be somebody else. It would be through me. I just phone somebody. Just give me a bell, and I will get it sorted for you."

Kev told the court he and Carlin had gone to a football game at Murrayfield, an exhibition match between Hibs and Barcelona, and he had arranged for them to attend. He agreed that Carlin had been his guest.Questioned by the defence solicitor-advocate Vincent Belmonte, the officer also agreed that the first mention of drugs had been made by the police to Carlin, telling him they had been wanting to get "a couple of nine bars" (nine ounces) of cocaine.

The jury was told some evidence had been agreed between the prosecution and the defence, and the advocate-depute, Morag Jack, read out the agreement.

She said police had searched a flat in Hay Gardenson 11 February last year and found cash totalling 1,790 including 700 within a DVD case. There was also travel insurance documents for a four-night trip to Las Vegas costing 2,277, a receipt for a 97.50 Armani hooded top, and a receipt for 3,000 which had been paid in cash by Carlin for $6,020.

Ms Jack said Carlin had used cash to buy a 990 Louis Vuitton handbag and paid 898 with a bank card for a two-night stay in Manchester to take in a Manchester City-Arsenal match.

She added that Carlin had paid 3,190 in advance of laser eye surgery and received a 600 refund following the procedure.

A second man, Hugh Crease, 53, of Niddrie Mains Drive, Edinburgh, denies being concerned in the supplying of cocaine on 11 February, 2009.

The trial continues.