Sheriff tells dealer to expect jail sentence Court hears O'Neill connected to serious organised crime
Police Scotland has warned coronavirus-related attacks and threats on officers will not be tolerated after cops were coughed at and spat on.
Frontline policing teams and personnel from the custody suites have been subjected to abusive behaviour including threats of deliberate transmission during lockdown.
Between March 24 and April 18 there have been over 100 such crimes committed in Scotland, where police officers and staff are recorded as victims.
Officers and staff are visible in communities 24 hours a day as the service encourages people to stick with physical distancing requirements to protect the NHS and save lives.
They are engaging with the public, explaining the physical distancing requirements, encouraging people to comply with the law, and using enforcement only where necessary.
Chief Constable Iain Livingstone thanked Scotland’s communities for the high levels of co-operation shown during this challenging period.
However, he condemned occasions where officers and staff have also been spat at or coughed.
Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said:“Police officers and staff are playing a vital role as we all make the changes and sacrifices needed to protect the NHS and save lives.
“I’d like to thank the vast majority of our communities for their co-operation and support as we all contribute to the national effort to curtail the spread of coronavirus.
“Those doing the right thing will agree these sorts of attacks on our officers and staff are outrageous and disgraceful.
“Abuse and assault is not simply part of the job for police officers and staff and will not be tolerated.
“The Chief Constable and Lord Advocate have made it clear that those engaging in this behaviour will be dealt with robustly by Scotland’s police and prosecution services.
“Threatening a member of Police Scotland personnel, or any other emergency service worker, while they are carrying out their duties to keep the public safe will result in immediate arrest.
“On the occasions where such incidents have occurred we have seen a very supportive approach from Sheriffs across the country and in some instances, offenders have been remanded in custody.”
CONNOR GORDON
A drug dealer connected to serious organised crime has been told to expect a jail sentence after cops found him with drugs worth as much as £20,000.
They later discovered Michael O’Neill kept dirty money and a £2000 designer watch hidden inside a Wellington boot at his East Kilbride home.
The 30-year-old was snared last October after cops found him with over 500g of cocaine in his car. A search of his home in Craigneith Court uncovered a further £6910 in cash kept in a cupboard and attic.
On Thursday, O’Neill pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to supplying the class A drug, aggravated by a connection with serious organised crime.
Court heard how police officers stopped O’Neill’s Renault Megane on the town’s Richmond Place.
The vehicle was searched and two mobile phones, a big containing a white substance and a bag containing a block.
The dad-of-one was arrested and a further search of his home was carried out.
Entry was granted by O’Neill’s partner who informed police they were not together at the time.
Officers found two envelopes and two shoe boxes containing cash, as well as scales in a cupboard.
Prosecutor Mark Allan added: “An envelope containing cash was also in two wellington boots, as was a Tag Carerra watch and paperwork.”
A mixing bowl with traces of white powder, freezer bags and a silver spoon containing white powder were also found in the attic.
Sheriff Sean Murphy heard how the cash recovered from the property and car amounted to a total of £6910.
One of the bags seized was found to contain 13.6g of cocaine while the other contained 488g of the drug.
Mr Allan added: “The value of the drugs in total is somewhere between £10,000 to £20,000.”
Billy Lavelle, defending, will make his plea in mitigation at the sentencing which was deferred until next month.
O’Neill, now of Cambuslang, was remanded in custody meantime by
Sheriff Murphy who told him “custody is inevitable.”
His conviction comes just weeks after a pan-Lanarkshire operation by police uncovered £2.6m worth of drugs.
Serious Crimes officers also seized more than £1m of cash, firearms, stolen vehicles and jewellery during the raids across the West of Scotland.
Nine men, aged between 20 to 53-years-old, and two women, both aged 26, were arrested and charged in connection with various offences.
Detective Inspector John Lewis told the News that O’Neill’s case was another example of Police Scotland’s commitment to “tackle the supply of drugs in Lanarkshire”.
“Drugs cause nothing but misery in our communities and we will everything at our disposal to bring people like O’Neill to justice.
“We rely on the support of the public when targeting dealers like him and appreciate any information they can share with us to help disrupt the supply of drugs and bring those responsible to justice.”