Sheriff tells lout to stay out of trouble

A sheriff warned a dealer snared with cocaine that he came close to locking him up.

Jamie McGhie, 23, was handed an electronic tag and unpaid work instead of a prison stretch when he admitted having drugs with the intention to supply them at Beith Road, Johnstone.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard McGhie, of McDonald Avenue, also Johnstone, admitted the charges following his arrest on August 19, last year.

His co-accused, Michael Wilkie, 32, of Ash Place, Johnstone, also pleaded guilty to lesser charges of possession when he appeared at court.

Alistair Gray, defence agent for McGhie, said: “He is a father with two young children and very much regrets his involvement in this matter.

“He has not been involved in this type of offending before and I would urge the court to consider a community- based disposal as he would be willing to undertake unpaid work and a restriction of liberty order could be imposed at his address.”

Defence agent Mr Fleming, for Wilkie, added: “He accepts full responsibility for the offence, but admits the high value was for his personal use.

“Drugs are often bought in quantities to save money. He is a father of three and very much regrets his conduct. He also acts as a carer for his 66-year-old father, as well as being in full-time work to support his family.”

However, Sheriff Tom McCartney tore a strip off McGhie, saying he was on the verge of jailing him.

He said: “You have placed yourself in a very precarious situation. I have to think very carefully about whether I am required to impose a prison sentence or whether there could be an alternative to custody regarding the gravity of the offence.”

But, because of his lack of previous offending, he handed him a 12- month Community Payback Order comprising 270 hours’ unpaid work and a restriction of liberty order lasting eight months, requiring him to be at home between 7pm and 7am and supervision.

He was warned that any breach of the order will result in his going to jail.

Sheriff McCartney handed co- accused Wilkie a Community Payback Order with supervision lasting 12 months, requiring him to do 160 hours unpaid work for benefit of the community.

Both will appear for a sentence review in October.