Ex-Hibs footballer jailed after Lothian & Borders’ largest drugs haul

A FORMER Hibernian youth footballer, who was caught with the biggest haul of drugs ever seized by a Scottish police force, has been jailed for nine years.

Kris Brown, 29, and two co-accused, Lee Knott and Iain Hunter, were convicted of supplying heroin and other drugs at a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

The heroin, with an estimated street value of £1.7 million, was found by police when they

raided Knott’s flat in Sighthill, Edinburgh, on 16 December, 2010.

Police discovered 37.5lb (17kg) of heroin, as well as other class A and B drugs. It was Lothian and Borders Police’s biggest

seizure, part of Operation

Congress which targets serious organised crime.

Brown was said to have had “seniority” over Knott, 23, and taught him how to mix the drugs. Knott and Hunter, 22, admitted their part in the offences at earlier hearings, but Brown denied all the charges.

Sentencing them at the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lord Boyd of Duncansby said the three men were involved in a “vile and evil trade”.

He said: “It ruins lives, tears families apart and is known to cause major health problems. The need to feed the addiction can often lead to crime and prostitution.”

Brown was convicted unanimously last month. The judge jailed Brown for nine years for supplying heroin, four years for supplying cocaine and ten months for two other charges.

Knott was sentenced to five years and four months for supplying heroin, three years and six months for supplying

cocaine and four months for supplying mephedrone.

His sentences were reduced because of his guilty plea.

Hunter was said to be less involved, but had previous convictions including assault to severe injury. He was jailed for four years and six months.