Cops take £1,000 from drug probe man

Lawyer tells sheriff cash was from sale of motorbike

A man who sold his motorbike on Facebook had his cash seized under proceeds of crime legislation, a court heard.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard yesterday that cops raided the home of Stuart Lambie believing he was involved in the supply of drugs.

However, no drugs or drugs paraphernalia were recovered in the search at the house in Marjory Drive, in Paisley’s Gallowhill area.

The court was told that prosecutors have been seeking to confiscate £1,050 in readies recovered from Mr Lambie’s home for three months so that “inquiries may continue.”

But defence agent Gordon Ritchie hit back at the bust, claiming the search was based on a rumour fuelled by “defective intelligence.”

Fiscal depute Tom Bowman said: “The intelligence suggested that Stuart Lambie was concerned in the supply of a controlled drug and this was based on information from a previously reliable source.

“Just because drugs were not found doesn’t mean the intelligence was defective. The drugs could have been moved elsewhere.

“And things posted on Facebook have also been proved wrong in the past.”

The fiscal added the application to seize the money for three months was to allow for further inquiries.

Mr Ritchie, who is challenging the proceeds of crime action, said: “No drugs or drugs paraphernalia was found.

“Police took £1,050 from the sale of a motorbike.

“He sold his bike, a KX250, which is a trail bike I believe, on Facebook using a bonus ball system.

“The cash was at his house in preparation for his son’s birthday. Police craved a warrant under the suspicion there was significant quantities of drugs at his house. They found nothing to support this.”

Sheriff David Pender, presiding, said he was in the unique position of agreeing with both the prosection and defence over the proceeds of crime application.

However, he refused the Crown its full three months’ confiscation, res t r icting prosecutors to only 30 days to conclude their inquiries.