Man turned to drug dealing after job loss

Court hears accused was too proud to ask for help

AMAN who was “too embarrassed” to ask for financial help after losing his job turned to drug dealing, a court heard. Jason Hannin was caught with cocaine in his car on January 13 last year.

Depute fiscal Katie Bell last week told Glasgow Sheriff Court that police in an unmarked car spotted the 26-year-old on Lenzie Terrace.

She said: “Their attention was drawn to another male who was standing on a footpath. He appeared to be waiting on someone.

“Police observed the accused, who was driving a motor vehicle, engage with the unknown male through the window then drive off.

“Police stopped him their suspicions.” due to

Bell said officers searched Hannin, of Great Western Road, and his car where they found 10.7 grams of white powder – later identified as the class A drug – in 14 bags.

It was valued at £280 and £145 in cash was also found as well as two mobile phones.

Bell added: “Police noted both phones were receiving messages throughout the search in open view of police.

“Police read them and believed they were linked to drug use.”

When cautioned, Hannin told police he had been made redundant, adding: “For every £20, I make a fiver of it. It’s not worth it.”

Munro, Hannin’s defence agent, said sentencing had been deferred for reports following his client’s guilty plea.

However, Sheriff Price expressed her concern Hannin referred to cocaine as a “party drug” within the report.

Munro said

Hannin had come before the courts previously but had managed “to get himself away from offending culture”.

He said: “He got a very good job in asbestos removal earning between £3000 to 4000 a month, living in Bahrain and Ireland.

“He lost his job and had to apply for Universal Credit. He has a problem with gambling.”

He added: “He stupidly agreed to cover someone else’s run for the day. He wasn’t very good at it because he got caught by police.”

Munro added Hannin had got a job in cleaning since the incident, however, he was hoping to get his previous job back when restrictions ease.

Sheriff Price said: “There’s no such thing as a party drug. Drugs kill – it’s as simple as that. They cause misery and they cause a great deal of misery in this city.”

Hannin was placed on supervision for a year and ordered to carry out 210 hours of unpaid work.