Jail term for Stanley man found with drugs

Nov 21 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A DRUG dealer who became hooked on heroin while serving a prison sentence was jailed for 21 months at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday.

The court heard that drugs squad officers recovered hundreds of pounds worth of the Class A drug after raiding 24-year-old Darren Fraser’s home in Mill Street, Stanley, on August 22.

Fraser, who had a previous conviction for supplying drugs, had his sentence backdated to August 25, when he was first remanded in custody.

Depute fiscal John Malpass told the court that police, armed with a search warrant, forced their way into the accused’s home at 9.30am.

He was lying asleep on the sofa in the livingroom.

He was cautioned and shown the warrant and was told that he – and his premises – were going to be searched.

Officers recovered a Clingfilm wrap, containing white powder, from his left-hand trouser pocket.

“Asked what it was, he replied: ‘Kit – heroin.’ He was then asked how much and indicated one gramme.”

Other drugs paraphernalia was also recovered from the house, including electronic scales, papers with writing on it, and a grinder.

The drug weighed 4.037 grammes and had a potential illicit value of £400.

During an interview at police HQ, he indicated that the drug was for his own personal use.

“He also complained that the heroin which they had recovered was of poor quality,” added Mr Malpass.

“As a consequence of that, he had more than what he would have ordinarily.”

Drugs squad officers, however, were of the opinion that because of the quantity of heroin and the other items seized, the accused was a supplier.

Solicitor Linda Clark said that Fraser first started using heroin around 2002, while serving a prison sentence.

On his release, he subsequently weaned himself off the drug.

But she added: “Again, while serving a sentence in 2005, he got himself back on heroin and admits that since then he has struggled with his heroin habit.”

Since his remand on August 22, he had undergone a detox. programme and had also completed a drug addiction course.

Imposing the jail term, Sheriff Michael Fletcher said: “The courts have said time and time again that the supply of Class A drugs will not be tolerated.

“There’s no other way I can deal with this than by a custodial sentence.”