Tanning boss ordered to hand over £3000 after being caught with drugs

Colin Smith was jailed for 40 months earlier this year after police stopped him on the outskirts of Edinburgh and found he had cocaine worth 50,000 on the streets.

The Crown began proceedings against Smith, 40, of Grant Road, Prestonpans, in East Lothian to strip him of crime profits.

But a judge at the High Court in Edinburgh was told today that a settlement had been reached in the action.

Defence counsel Mark Moir told Lord McEwan during a brief hearing that it was agreed between the parties that the proceeds of Smith's general criminal conduct was 399,014.63, but that the available amount to be confiscated was 3000.

He added that under the agreement Smith would get three months to pay the sum to Edinburgh Sheriff Court. Lord McEwan made a confiscation order for that amount against Smith.

An off-duty Lothian and Borders police officer had spotted Smith driving a black BMW car on the M8 motorway in September 2009.

The High Court earlier that the detective was aware of "certain intelligence" concerning him and saw him turn off at the Harthill service station and park at a secluded spot.

The officer saw him approach another vehicle before returning to his car carrying something under his arm. Traffic police were alerted and Smith was stopped at Newbridge as he returned eastwards.

A bag containing two blocks of the Class A drug, weighing almost a kilo in total, was found in the front passenger seat. Smith also had four envelopes containing more than pounds 2500 which he claimed was takings from his Coco Beach tanning salon in Penicuik, in Midlothian.

Smith, who was also the manager at a mortgage business, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine on September 24 last year at the M8.

The judge who jailed Smith, Lord Doherty, told him: "Your involvement was as a courier. Your motive was financial gain."

Smith's defence said he had "buckled under the pressure of significant financial difficulties" at the time of the offence.

Solicitor advocate Andrew Houston said Smith's problems became known to others and he was given the chance "to make what was described to him as 'some easy money' by collecting and delivering a package."