Police worker jailed for drugs and data offences

A drug-dealing Grampian Police worker caught with secret work documents at her home has been jailed.

Laura Young, 22, copied crime files and police reports while working in Aberdeen.

She admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and Data Protection Act offences.

Police custody and security officer Young was jailed for 28 months and fined £1,250 at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

The court heard that she had also obtained a list of 40 names of people arrested during Grampian Police's Operation Lochnagar - a crackdown on drug activity in the force area.

Her lawyer, Steven Borthwick, described Young as having had a difficult upbringing and pleaded with the sheriff not to impose a custodial sentence.

However, Sheriff James Tierney told her: "I have given considerable attention to what has been said.

"Being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs is a serious offence. The supply of cocaine is the scourge of many communities.

"I've come to the view that there is no other appropriate disposal other than a custodial sentence."

Mr Borthwick described his client as a young woman with "low self-esteem" who had taken a drug-user into her home.

He said: "The mischief which was struck is perhaps more administrative in nature."

He added that she had found herself rapidly "way over her head" after becoming involved with the drug-user.

Young was jailed for breaking data protection rules on five occasions between 2 March and 14 May last year and selling cocaine between 1-30 April.