Accused claimed he was settling debts by couriering
MIKE MCQUAID
Police found cocaine worth £12,000 when they searched a Strathaven man’s car.
Scott Donald denied the drugs were his and claimed he had agreed to act as a courier after running up debts.
The 21-year-old narrowly avoided a prison sentence when he appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.
He admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug last March.
He also admitted having a small amount of cocaine at his home in Rokeby Crescent.
Co-accused Johnathan MacAulay, 22, of Glen Avenue, Larkhall, walked free when his not guilty plea to the cocaine supply charge was accepted.
Mairi-Clare McMillan, prosecuting, said police officers were on foot patrol when they came across the car in Gavin Street, Motherwell.
The engine was running but there was no one inside.
Ms McMillan explained: “The accused Donald approached them and stated the vehicle belonged to him.
“Police searched the vehicle and found several bags of cocaine and the mixing agent benzocaine.
“The purity was 59 per cent and the value varied from £5000 if bought wholesale up to approximately £12,000.
“A set of scales was also recovered.”
Defence agent Jackson Bateman stressed that Donald’s involvement with the illegal consignment was for one day only.
He stated: “It’s his position that he had accrued significant debts through his addiction to cocaine.
“He was asked to transport the drugs for another party and told that if he did this his debts would be cleared.”
Mr Bateman produced letters from family and friends saying Donald had made positive changes to his life since his arrest.
Sheriff Thomas Millar told Donald: “You must now realise how seriously this matter is taken by the court.
“Having regard to the positive background report and your lack of a criminal record, I’m prepared to make orders for unpaid work and restriction of liberty.”
Donald must complete 240 hours of community work within a year.
He will also be electronically tagged for four months, meaning he’s confined to his home between 7pm and 7am each day.
The sheriff fined him £160 on the cocaine possession charge.