A SOCIAL media influencer who was caught smuggling £150,000 of cannabis through Edinburgh Airport has been jailed for 16 months.
Ellie Crampsie was found to have more than 17 kilos of the Class B drug stuffed into a suitcase as she travelled home from a holiday in Thailand in April last year.
Crampsie claimed she was forced into carrying the large drug haul by a former boyfriend and a sheriff accepted she had been “naive and potentially taken advantage of”.
The 23-year-old is a well-known social media personality and influencer, and is prominent in the Glasgow nightlife and events scene, where she promotes several brands.
She also runs her own beauty business, called Brows by Ellie, and specialises in styling and treatments.
Crampsie, of Broomhouse, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug at Edinburgh Airport when she appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month.
She returned to the dock for sentencing on Friday, where solicitor Michael Poggi said that his client had played “a lesser role” in the drug operation and there had been “evidence of pressure” from others.
Mr Poggi said: “The fact is that other parties did not travel through [the airport] at the same time and did not make contact after.
"There was an element of influence from a much older person who had a controlling position over my client.”
In sentencing, Sheriff Graeme Watson said: “You have pled guilty to, by way of a section 76, of being concerned in the supply of cannabis, a Class B drug.
“You were stopped by Border Control officers with a suitcase containing over 17 kilograms of cannabis in vacuum sealed packages with a street value of up to £151,000.
“I have carefully considered the criminal justice social work report, and the plea of mitigation on your behalf.
“I accept the submission on your behalf that there was a lesser degree of culpability.
“You knew your former partner had been involved in drugs and he asked you to check in his luggage that also contained female clothes.
“Your role was one of carrying the cannabis in your luggage and I accept there was a power imbalance in the relationship.”
The sheriff added Crampsie’s conduct in carrying the drugs was “reckless” but accepted she had been “naïve and potentially taken advantage of”.
Sheriff Watson said he had no option but to impose a custodial sentence and jailed Crampsie for 16 months.
Previously, the court was told that Crampsie had flown on an Air France flight from Thailand to the Scottish Capital via Paris and was stopped by Border Force officers on April 16 last year.
Fiscal depute Emma Laing said: “She was asked the usual questions by the officer and she confirmed she had travelled from Thailand.
“Her luggage was opened and a number of vacuum packages were within.”
The court was told that airport officials discovered 17 separate sealed packages containing 17.7kg of cannabis with a total value estimated at between £115,000 and £151,000.
Crampsie pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug, namely cannabis, to another or others at Edinburgh Airport on April 16 last year.
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