Dad-of-four in jail after drug deals worth £31k

A DAD-of-four who was involved in dealing drugs worth more than £30,000 has been jailed.

Billy Thomson, 31, of Station Road in Longforgan, appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court after admitting supplying drugs in the Kirkton and Douglas areas last year.

Thomson pleaded guilty to charges of being concerned in the supplying of amphetamine at addresses in Balunie Avenue and Balgowan Avenue, on September 26.

He further pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis at the same addresses between September 17-26.

The court heard the drugs recovered had a purchase value of about £4,000.

But if sold on the street, they could have made £31,000.

Solicitor Jim Laverty, representing Thomson, told the court his client did not have an extensive record.

He claimed Thomson had gone to a flat to pick up cannabis for him and his friends.

While there, said Mr Laverty, he was asked “this one time” to make a delivery of amphetamine.

He “regrettably” agreed to do it and that’s when he was caught by police.

Mr Laverty told the court Thomson had a “pretty good” work ethic.

He added his client has four children with his partner, and was still grieving the death of his twin brother, understood to be Dale Thomson — whose death is the subject of a fatal accident inquiry.

The solicitor claimed that in these “exceptional” circumstances, it would be possible for the sheriff to impose a non-custodial sentence.

However, Sheriff Alastair Carmichael put Thomson behind bars.

He said he had taken everything Mr Laverty said into consideration, but added: “The problem you have is that the value of the drugs goes from £4,000 to £31,000.

“As such there is no alternative to a custodial sentence.” He jailed Thomson for 14 months. Dale took his own life in January 2015 after suffering mental health problems.

The circumstances surrounding his death, including his treatment and subsequent release from the Carseview Centre at Ninewells Hospital, are the subject of a fatal accident inquiry — which got under way earlier this year and is due to recommence in the autumn.