Hash user busted in police raid

Turned to drug to ease drink habit

08.06.2017 A cannabis user was nabbed by cops during a raid on his home.

Gary Hanvidge was charged with drug dealing after seven quarterounce deals were recovered by officers who turned up at the property in Chappell Street, Barrhead, armed with a search warrant.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard this week that the 47-year-old claimed the drug was for his own use.

He insisted that he turned to cannabis in a bid to stop his excessive drinking.

However, his use had spiralled out of control, leading to him smoking up to a quarter ounce a day.

He told police that the stash recovered in the raid was simply his own week’s supply.

Unemployed Hanvidge stuck to his guns when he appeared in the dock, and finally had the charge reduced to unlawful possession only.

Solicitor advocate Chris McKenna said he had been urging the Crown to accept that position since the start of the year.

Depute fiscal John Penman told the court that police officers had found the drugs when they raided the property on September 24 last year.

When quizzed, Hanvidge told investigating officers: “It’s all mine —I smoke about a quarter a day.”

Mr McKenna told the court that his client had decided to stop drinking after seeking support for an underlying booze problem and resorted to smoking cannabis as an alternative.

Hanvidge is being given support and counselling on a regular basis, the court heard.

Sheriff Seith Ireland fined him £270, discounted from £350 due to his early guilty plea, and told him: “It’s good that you have stayed away from alcohol and you should try to do the same with cannabis. It’s likely to cause you long-term harm.”

Hanvidge was allowed to pay the financial penalty at £10 per fortnight.