Busted heroin dealer jailed for 297 days

Auld’s phones were analysed which showed him to be in supply of the drug.

A value of £ 1470 of heroin was recovered.

While police continued their search at the home, a male came and asked them if they had “any kit for sale”.

When officers told him they were the police he made off.

Auld made a no comment interview except from saying that the drugs recovered were for his personal use.

Solicitor Glenn Davis said Auld, who was out on license at the time, had been in custody over the matter since October 15.

Mr Davis said: “Your lordship will already know this but that would be the value if sub divided and he stated it was for personal use.

“But he has accepted that a proportion would be for supply.

“Thomas Auld was not long released on license.

“His life had been in some disarray. His methadone prescription, maintained since 2017, had been discontinued.

“He was released on August 28, 2019 but he was released without prescription.

“He found it difficult to cope back in the outside world.

“He was unable to cope without a methadone programme and unable to cope without heroin and it was only a matter of time.

“It was inevitable and the consequences of that is he’s appearing before you today.”

Mr Davis added that Auld was “realistic” about his fate and said: “He simply wishes to get his head down, undertake the sentence, come back out and make a go of his rehabilitation.”

After rising to deliberate an appropriate sentence, Sheriff Colin Dunipace told Auld jail was the only option.

The Sheriff said: “As rightly said by your solicitor, there’s only one real sentence and that’s a custodial one.

“You committed this offence whilst still on license.”

Sheriff Dunipace sentenced Auld to a total of 297 days imprisonment.