A PERSONAL trainer caught with a £900,000 drugs haul after a high-speed police chase was jailed today for five years and four months.

William Paterson, 35, threw the box of cocaine from a car window during the pursuit around North Glasgow on March 1, 2023.

Officers had earlier kept tabs on "courier" Paterson through Operation Windstriker which focused on an organised crime group based in the West of Scotland.

(Image: Police Scotland) Paterson previously pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to being concerned in the supply of cocaine aggravated by a connection with serious organised crime.

Judge Lady Hood said: "You said you had financial worries which were exacerbated by your mental health and depression.

"You said you agreed for money to carry out this task for an acquaintance, realising it involved illegal substances.

"Having suffered yourself and helped others, you are aware of the devastating impact substances have.

"You said yourself that you feel like a fraud and you did not use the support of your family but became embroiled in organised crime.

"Trafficking Class A drugs with a substantial quantity is a serious offence and I have to protect the public by deterring others from becoming involved in this activity."

It was revealed that his only previous convictions concern road traffic matters.

Following the sentencing, Moira Orr, who leads on homicide and major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “This was a highly successful prosecution which has removed a large quantity of drugs from our streets and caused significant disruption to the local supply chain. 

“William Paterson will now spend time in prison paying for his crimes thanks to an extensive police operation, working with COPFS, to investigate a network of drug supply.  

“Drug trafficking wrecks lives and blights communities where drugs take hold. 

“The Crown will continue working with the police and other agencies as a member of Scotland’s Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce to ensure that these crimes are detected and those responsible prosecuted using all measures at our disposal.” 

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The court was previously told that Paterson was spotted receiving a box from a man in the city's Springboig.

Paterson was noted to put the box in the vehicle and drove off.

Officers stopped beside Paterson at a set of traffic lights on Cumbernauld Road.

Prosecutor Alan Parfery said: "Paterson became aware of the officers and drove off.

"He did a U-turn, entered the central reservation then the wrong side of the road and drove off at speed towards Glasgow."

Paterson went on to strike a police vehicle and drove through a red light.

Officers saw Paterson throw a black phone out of the driver's window during the pursuit.

Paterson later did another U-turn in the city's Robroyston when he drove back towards the pursuing officers.

Paterson's Mercedes struck the police vehicle which caused his airbags to inflate as well as damage to both cars.

He was apprehended then taken to hospital and released without treatment.

However, two of the officers involved suffered from suspected whiplash. The police vehicle was later written off.

Paterson's car was searched and two envelopes containing £1,000 and £5,370 were recovered.

The black box Paterson was earlier spotted taking possession of was not found.

Officers retraced the route of the pursuit and recovered it from near Hogganfield Loch.

Mr Parfery said: "There were 90 blocks of cocaine in the box.

"Subdivided into one gram street deals, there is potential realisation of between £719,000 and £898,800."

It was also stated that the purity of the blocks ranged between 81% and 83%.

Paterson's home in Chryston, Lanarkshire, was searched and a MacBook as well as an iPhone were recovered. Both items were later destroyed by police.

Bob Mitchell, defending, told the sentencing that the dad-of-two became involved having suffered "financial difficulties".

The lawyer said: "He was offered money to act in the way he did on this day.

"He was to be a courier for one day which was the date of the offence. It's a decision he bitterly regrets."