Dad found with cannabis stash dodges prison

Police nabbed £2,200 worth of Class-B drug

A dad-of-three busted with a large stash of cannabis has been spared prison.

Jamie Shirley, 40, was caught with around £2,200 worth of the Class-B drug during a police raid at his address.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard cops acting in an intelligence-led operation carried out a search of the property where Shirley immediately put his hands up to possession of the herbal cannabis.

However, the court heard the drugs had been bought for social but not commercial supply when Mr Shirley appeared in the dock.

Fiscal depute Mark Nicol said: “On the morning of May 9, police attended the locus, at Glencoats Drive, Paisley, where the accused was discovered in bedroom number one.

“Police conducted video recording at the premises.

“By 10.50am police continued to scan the property, when the accused stated ‘I have got some personal in the cupboard.’

“A number of bags were removed and the search was concluded by 11.15am.”

The prosecutor said police tested the contents of the bags, a green herbal material, which tested positive for cannabis.

Mr Nicol added the substances weighed a total of 350 grams, with an approximate street value of £2,200.

Yesterday Shirley pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of cannabis, a Class-B substance, with the intention of supplying another or others, when he appeared before Sheriff Moira McKenzie.

Defence agent Paul Lynch said his client had been keen to resolve the prosecution Advertising by offering Feature a plea of guilty to the charge.

He said: “He and his friends had pooled their resources before he bought the quantity of herbal cannabis, which had been deposited at his house the previous night.

“The police called the following morning to execute the warrant. His position is that he purchased the cannabis for social supply.”

The lawyer added the dad-ofthree regretted his involvement in the matter and asked the court to consider a community-based disposal.

Sheriff Moira McKenzie agreed with the lawyer, but handed Shirley a punishment as a “direct alternative to custody.”

She said: “Having listened to what has been said I am persuaded that custody can be avoided. I will impose a Community Payback Order comprising two elements: you will undergo supervision by the local authority and you will carry out 150 hours unpaid work, reduced from 200 hours, to reflect your guilty plea, to be carried out within nine months.”

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

I am persuaded that custody can be avoided Sheriff Moira McKenzie