Junkie dealer jailed for two years

Nov 25 2008

A PERTH drugs dealer, caught with more than £1000 worth of heroin in a city centre flat, was jailed for two years at the Sheriff Court.

The court heard that 41-year-old James McPhee, of Foundry Lane, had been out on bail at the time in connection with another drugs matter.

Police raided his home at 8am on August 27 and recovered a bag containing brown powder which he had thrown under his bed. It contained 11.2 grammes of the Class A drug and had a street value of £1100.

He pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin from his flat. He also faced two other drugs charges – being concerned in the supply of the Class C drug diazepam from a house in McDonald Court, Perth, in June, 2007, and supplying heroin from another house in McKenzie Court, Perth, again in June. But his not guilty pleas were accepted by the prosecution.

A co-accused, John Newlands, of McDonald Court, Perth, had a not guilty plea accepted to a drugs charge and he walked free from the court.

Depute fiscal Chris Mackintosh said that the accused was in bed in the main bedroom of his flat when police called to execute the warrants. Apart from the bag containing the powder, nothing further of “any significance” was found.

“He was on bail at the time in relation to another drugs matter not now before the court,” he added.

Solicitor John McLaughlin said that the accused had a “long history” of heroin abuse.

“It’s accepted he has a bad record and it’s peppered with references to drugs. At an earlier stage it was cannabis resin and then possession of heroin.”

McPhee had now made contact with various agencies in a bid to get help with his problem. He had also been served with papers in relation to the repossession of his flat.

“In common with a number of people in his position who have a heroin addiction, a small amount is sold on to maintain his own supply.”

Imposing the jail term, but backdating it to August 28, when he was remanded, Sheriff Michael Fletcher said: “You have an extremely extensive record for all sorts of offences. Most importantly you have already been convicted of supplying drugs.

“This was a substantial amount of heroin and the courts will not tolerate the supply of Class A drugs in the way you were doing on this occasion.”