Drugs accused boasted of £35k Rolex and luxury trips

James Carlin, from Niddrie, said he earned thousands of pounds to enjoy a string of luxury holidays because he was "lucky" at buying and selling cars for profit. The 24-year-old was targeted by undercover officers as part of Operation Domino after he was suspected of running a cocaine dealing gang in the Capital.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard extracts from bugged conversations between Carlin and the two officers, known as "Kev" and "Tommy", where he admitted he could source a kilo of cocaine for 19,000.

But giving evidence in court yesterday, Carlin denied he was involved in the illegal trade, and said the knowledge he showed to the officers came from "reading a lot of different books on drugs and crime".

Cross-examined by Advocate Depute Morag Jack, Carlin also admitted to the court that he partied at the celebrity bash on the holiday island in 2008.

Ms Jack said: "You attended a party with Kate Moss and Valentino Rossi?" Carlin said: "Yes. It was in the VIP room of a club when I was staying at the Ibiza Rocks Hotel."

Carlin was recorded telling the undercover officers about the Ibiza trip as they wined and dined him in a private box at a Hibs v Barcelona exhibition match at Murrayfield Stadium.

Earlier, the trial heard of Carlin's trip to Las Vegas with $6000 spending money, a 900 "football break" in Manchester, and other big purchases including a 990 Louis Vuitton handbag for his girlfriend.

Carlin, of Hay Drive, told his trial that he thought that the undercover officers were major players in rackets involving the sale of stolen goods.

His belief had led him to "act the man" in order to impress them and boast that he could supply them with cocaine.

He said: "I was just leading them along. I had told them I could get them anything when I never had a clue."

Ex-boxer Carlin added: "I was just going along with it. They were taking me to the football, getting me free drinks. It was harmless."

The court heard extracts from a taped conversation between "Kev" and "Tommy" at the officers' rented home in Northfield when they were offering body armour for sale, which Carlin had expressed an interest in buying. Carlin told them a kilo of cocaine could be bought from him for 19,000.

Carlin told the court: "I got that from reading books. I've read a lot of different books on drugs and crime."

He also said that his drug knowledge came from his own cocaine use.

Carlin said he funded a 3000 bill for laser eye surgery from gambling after winning 3500 on a 400 bet.

He also said that he had owned three Rolex watches - one valued at up to 35,000, which he got for just 6000 because it was stolen goods.

He said he also made a living by buying and selling cars, including a Jaguar X-Type and a Mitsubishi Warrior.

Carlin denies being concerned in the supply of cocaine at the Jock's Lodge pub and Scottie's bar on Northfield Broadway, as well as other addresses in Edinburgh, between January 2007 and February last year.

He also denies a charge of attempting to supply benzylpiperazine, falsely believing it was Ecstasy.

His co-accused, Hugh Crease, 53, of Niddrie Mains Drive, walked free yesterday after charges against him were withdrawn by the Crown.

The trial continues.