Ex-boxer James Carlin warned of "lengthy" sentence after police sting

A trial heard how ex-boxer James Carlin, 24, spent thousands of pounds on holidays, designer goods and watches - but turned down the chance to buy a bullet-proof vest.

The "body armour" was offered by a detectives trying to win Carlin's confidence by posing as big-time criminals dealing in stolen goods.

They also treated Carlin to a slap-up meal, booze and invited him to share a private box at Murrayfield Stadium for an exhibition football match between Hibs and Barcelona.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard it was all part of Operation Domino, a crack-down on drug dealing launched by Lothian and Borders Police in 2007 which has already put nine men from the Edinburgh area behind bars for a total of 38 years.

A detective identified only as "Kev" - who said he had been "a covert operator" for eight years - gave evidence from behind screens in a courtroom closed to the public.

He described how he was asked to start frequenting pubs in the Jocks Lodge and Northfield area of Edinburgh - wearing a wire and secretly filming meetings. The task was to get to know Carlin's associates and worm his way into their confidence with cheap trainers, televisions and computer equipment.

Carlin's younger brother, Terry, swapped cocaine for a flat-screen TV, the trial heard.

"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," Kev explained.

He told how he sold Carlin a Playstation 3 for 200 and also tried to sell him a bullet-proof vest. "He wasn't interested," said Kev.

Carlin was completely taken in by Kev and his "associate" - another detective identified to the court only as Tommy.

Giving evidence, Carlin said he had believed they were "major players" in the crime world and when he offered to supply them with cocaine he was only trying to "act the man" and impress them.

But a jury rejected his story and found him guilty of being involved in the supply of cocaine in Edinburgh between January 2007 and February last year.

They also found him guilty of attempting to supply tablets which he believed - wrongly - were Ecstasy.

Advocate depute Morag Jack, prosecuting, had told the jury that Carlin was a "wholesaler" who relied on others to deliver the drugs, but kept a distance himself.

Carlin - who has a record for minor offences of dishonestly and violence and was subject of a community service order for breach of the peace - now faces sentence next month when background reports have been prepared.

Judge Kenneth Maciver remanded him in custody until then, telling him a long prison sentence was likely.

The four-day trial heard how a raid on Carlin's home at Hay Gardens, Edinburgh, on February 11 last year uncovered clues to his big spending habits.

Paperwork linked him to a 2277 four-night trip to gamblers' paradise Las Vegas and $6000 spending money.

Carlin had also paid almost 900 for a trip to Manchester to watch Man City play Arsenal.

Other purchases included a 990 designer handbag from a Louis Vuiton shop in Edinburgh's Multrees Walk, just before Christmas 2007 - a present for his girlfriend - and an Armani hooded top for 97.50 on Christmas Eve 2008.

Carlin had also gone to Optical Express in Princes Street, Edinburgh, in January last year and paid over 3190 for laser surgery - later receiving a refund of 600 after the procedure had been carried out.

Carlin told the trial that during the Hibs v Barcelona exhibition match they had all rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous - including disgraced Blue Peter presenter John Leslie - and claimed that the price tag for the outing two years ago might have been 10,000.

He also claimed that a party during a holiday in Ibiza had included super model Kate Moss and motorbike ace Valentino Rossi on the guest list.

Carlin agreed that he had boasted to "Kev" and his pal "Tommy" that he could supply cocaine, but it wasn't true.

"I was just banging them up ... just leading them along. I had told them I could get them anything when I never had a clue."

He added: "I was just trying to act the man, act something I wasn't. I was just going along with whatever they asked me."

Carlin claims that his top-drawer life-style was funded by earnings from various business interests and the occasional lucky betting coup.

Carlin said he had served a four year apprenticeship as a glazer and had been able to save money because he only paid his parents 20 a week for his keep.

His training schedule as a boxer meant he was not spending much money then - and his savings totted up to 6000 or 7000 - which he left lying around the house.

Carlin went on to start his own car valeting business and helped with a parcel delivery franchise - both of which earned him good money.

He also bought and sold prestige cars, including an X-type Jaguar and a Mitsubishi Warrior.

Carlin said he funded a 3000 bill for laser eye surgery from gambling. "I won a 3500 bet from William Hills and I had had bad eyesight all my life and did not want to wear glasses."

He also said today that he had owned three Rolex watches - one valued at between 33,000 and 35,000 - which he got for only 6000 because it was stolen goods.

Carlin's uncle, Hugh Crease, 53, of Niddrie Mains Drive, Edinburgh, walked free when charges of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possessing diazepam were dropped.

During the trial, no mention was made of an incident in Jock's Lodge pub in Piershill, Edinburgh while Carlin was awaiting trial.

He was shot in the leg, pistol-whipped and stabbed during the vicious attack on March 7 this year.

Dean Scott, 27, of Restalrig Road and David Coutts, 21, of Quarry Cottages, Newcraighall, were accused of attempted murder but admitted a reduced charges - Scott pleading guilty to shooting Catlin in the leg and Coutts pleading guilty to stabbing Carlin. They are remanded in custody pending sentence.

At earlier hearings, Carlin's brother Terry, 22, also of Hay Gardens, was jailed for three years and nine months; Dean Young, 25, of Bingham Broadway was also jailed for three years and nine months; Darren Sutherland, 26, of Bingham Broadway was jailed for five years and three months; James Arthur, of Hosie Rigg was jailed for five years and three months; James Young, 25, of Captain's Drive was jailed for four and a half years; Andrew McQueenie, 22, of Cavalry Park Drive was jailed for four and a half years; Darryl Coll, 21, of Vendelour Avenue, was jailed for three years; Lee Sugden, 21, of Bellfield Court, Musselburgh, was jailed for three years and nine months and James Hunter, 20, was sentenced to four and a half years detention.

All had previously admitted drug offences but their convictions could not be reported pending Carlin's trial.