Thomas Harvey and second largest recovery of coke in the Lothian and Borders area

Thomas Harvey was jailed for five years and three months.Police seized six kilos of the drug with a potential street value of more than £300,000 after tailing Harvey, 42, to Liverpool last September 12.Iain McSporran, prosecuting, said it was the second largest recovery of coke in the Lothian and Borders area and of above average purity.Harvey, of Claverhouse Drive, Liberton, Edinburgh, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine.Ronnie Renucci, QC, told the High Court in the city that Harvey had not been involved with drugs in any way before last September.But he discovered his 17-year-old son had run up a drugs debt of some £2000 and was facing threats if he could not come up with the money.Jobless Harvey intercepted one of a number of phone calls and told the caller there was no way either his son or himself could get that amount of cash.Renucci added: "It was then suggested to Harvey there may be other ways he would be able to come to an agreement or arrangement, as it were."He does accept he had the option of going to the police and he did not do that."He also handed judge Lord Mackay a letter from Harvey's son, backing up his story.Jailing Harvey, the judge said he took account of everything said on his behalf.Harvey had hoped that if he made a trip to Liverpool to collect the cocaine, his son's debt would be cancelled, the court heard.But police were on his tail as Harvey drove his Vauxhall van to the Crosby area of Liverpool. They watched him meet a man in a Transit.His van was later stopped on the A702 near Carlops and the drugs found behind a panel.