Lawyer accused of smuggling dismisses allegations

Blair Wilson is accused of trying to smuggle drugs and mobile phones into Saughton Prison. Picture: TSPL

David Blair Wilson, 55, accepted that heat-sealed packages had been found in his car at Edinburgh Prison, but insisted he knew nothing about them.

Asked if there was any truth in the charges against him, Blair Wilson stated: “No, of course there isn’t. It’s rubbish.”

Blair Wilson is accused of trying to introduce drugs, including cannabis resin and diazepam, and three mobile phones and SIM cards into the prison on 6 October, 2011. He has incriminated another man, Steven Douglas.

The High Court in Edinburgh has heard that Blair Wilson had a consultation that day with an inmate, Lee Brown. He arrived with “bulking” files and was told they would be scanned. Also, he was asked to hand in his mobile phone.

He went back to his car, saying he would leave his phone in the vehicle, and returned to the reception area with files which were then much thinner. They were scanned and he was allowed in to see Brown. After the visit, Blair Wilson got into his car and police arrived and detained him.

Officers gave evidence that four heat-sealed packages containing mobile phones and drugs were found in the driver’s footwell, and a fifth was recovered from the boot.

Blair Wilson told the jury that he had known Douglas for about 14 years, and Douglas had lodged with him for a time. Blair Wilson had been like a surrogate father to him.

About September 2011, Douglas revealed that he had become involved with “some serious drug dealers” and had lost a batch of heroin because it had been in his jeans when they were put in the washing machine. Because of the lost drugs, he owed the dealers around £10,000, and was threatened.

“I knew them, and if I had been in Steven’s position, I would have been scared. Lee Brown knew one of the people threatening him and I asked if he could help,” said Blair Wilson.

He arranged to go to the prison to see Brown and drove in his car, which had been with Douglas overnight to be valeted.

Blair Wilson said he took files with him, although none related to Brown, because he often had to wait at the prison to see clients and there was time to catch up on reading.

The defence counsel, Frances McMenamin, QC, said it was suggested by the prosecution that Blair Wilson had been carrying packages in the files.

“They can suggest it all they like, but that does not make it so,” he said.

After going to his car to leave his phone, he removed some of the contents of the files and “chucked” them on the back seat, he continued. He thought by then that he was going to get straight in to see Brown. He kept some of the paperwork in case he was wrong and still had to wait.

“Did you put anything in the footwell?” asked Ms McMenamin.

“No...(I’m) positive,” said Blair Wilson.

“The officers told the court (the packages) were in open view between the seat and the pedals and would have impeded driving,” said Ms McMenamin.

“No, that’s not right. They must have come from under the driver’s seat. It is the only place they could have been,” said Blair Wilson.

“Did you have anything to do with these items?” she asked.

“No,” he said.

The trial continues.