Girl of 5 had drug for snack at school

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD girl was sent to school with drugs instead of a snack in her bag.

Shocked staff made the discovery when the P1 pupil was told to take out her snack ahead of the morning break.

The girl said the yellow powder was “medicine” belonging to Stacey Harkins,

the woman who was meant to be looking after her.

The 29-year-old appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court yesterday.

She admitted exposing the little girl to harm by putting the drugs into her bag.

Tom Bowman, prosecuting, said the incident happened at a primary school in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, in June 2015.

He told the court: “It was at 10.55am when children were instructed to take their snacks from their school bags in preparation for morning break.

“School staff found a small bag containing yellow powder in the girl’s bag.”

The bag contained a gram of amphetamine.

Police were contacted and when officers searched the accused’s home in the town, they found another 6g of amphetamine.

Harkins, also known as Stacey Williams, admitted possession of the drugs, which had a value of £20.

Terry Gallanagh, defending, said his client was deeply remorseful and “absolutely horrified that she put the girl in such a dangerous situation”.

He said Harkins had a “chaotic lifestyle” and kept the drugs in her house as “she uses them to get through the day”.

But Sheriff Linda Smith said: “Chaotic how? She has the support of her family and a long-term partner.

“It seems to me that at the age of 29, she needs to grow up.”

She placed Harkins on a community payback order, which will include one year of supervision and 140 hours of unpaid work.