Unpaid work for teen who was dealer

A teenager caught red-handed dealing drugs in a derelict Crieff building has escaped a prison sentence.

Instead, 19-year-old Thomas Adams, who was told he had his “whole life ahead of him,”was ordered to complete 115 hours of unpaid work in the next four months following an appearance at Perth Sheriff Court.

The accused, of Commissioner Street, was warned that the Community Payback Order was being imposed as a“direct alternative”to a custodial sentence.

A total of £600, seized by police when they arrested him, along with two mobile phones and a set of scales, were forfeited.

The court was told that he was detained by police in a property used as a“den”by local groups.

As officers walked through the Old Bakery, in Crieff’s High Street, they spotted the accused standing inside a doorway.

There was a small table in front of him - and on it were a set of scales, according to depute fiscal Carol Whyte.

He was holding a small freezer bag containing cannabis and although alerted by two girls who were present, he was apprehended.

When searched, he was found to have more than £100 in his possession, along with two mobile phones.

A further search at the police station led to officers seizing another small bag of“vegetable matter”found in his jeans pocket.

A rucksack he had with him also contained a further £500.

“In total, seven grammes of cannabis were recovered with an estimated value of £70,”added the fiscal.

The phones were examined and from text messages arranging meetings at the building, officers were of the opinion that he was concerned in the supply of the Class B drug.

Adams admitted dealing in cannabis at the Crieff location on August 6 last year and was initially ordered to take part in the Right Track scheme, designed to keep youngsters on the straight and narrow.

The court heard that he had completed that, along with some unpaid work, but Sheriff William Wood told him it had been“touch and go.”

Solicitor Cheryl McKnight said the teen had made“some effort”towards the end of the supervision period.

The court was told that the cannabis recovered by police would be destroyed.