Drug addict had heroin tied into his underwear

Sheriff told of 95 previous convictions

A Perth man, said to have a“longstanding drug habit,” was found with hundreds of pounds worth of heroin tied into his boxer shorts with a hair bauble.

The drugs seizure was made by police at Perth Royal Infirmary after Alan Brown had been arrested as he tried to make off with a bag from Balhousie Castle Museum, regimental home of The Black Watch.

He had earlier stolen a wallet from the nearby Bell’s Sports Centre.

Perth Sheriff Court was told the 37-yearold, a resident in the Greyfriars Hostel, Princes Street, had been taken to hospital for assessment.

Depute fiscal John Malpass said he was suffering from “apparent drug intoxication” and was taken to A&E about 3.45pm.

Handcuffs were removed from him while he was checked over but he was then seen placing his hand down the front of his jeans.

“He then stood up and started to struggle,” Mr Malpass explained.

Officers recovered a wrap, containing 5.72 grammes of heroin, worth £300, from his underwear.

Brown, who has been on remand in Perth Prison, was jailed for a total of 30 months after pleading guilty to a fivecharge indictment.

He admitted stealing the wallet from one of the sports centre changing rooms on September 14 and then being found in the castle in suspicious circumstances the same day.

He also had a bradawl, a sharply pointed woodworking tool, in his possession.

Further charges of possessing the class A drug and resisting police at the Perth hospital were admitted.

In relation to the wallet, Mr Malpass said Brown, who appeared to be under the influence of a substance, was seen trying the handles of several of the outdoor changing rooms. It was discovered a wallet had been taken and when he was challenged and taken hold of, it dropped to the floor. The bradawl was found when he was searched.

A short time later, someone in one of the castle offices became aware of another person walking about.

There was a canvas bag sitting on the employee’s desk and he managed to put his hand down on top of it to prevent Brown taking it.

Solicitor Linda Clark said the accused’s drug habit had resulted in him being jailed, then freed and incarcerated again on “numerous occasions.”

He had been freed from jail on September 7 and picked up his methadone prescription later that day.

But there was a “mix-up” a week later - and there was no medication for him.

“He left the chemist and took a quantity of valium or similar substance.

“His recollection of all - or any - of the events narrated was dimmed by the substances he took that day.”

Noting that the accused has 95 previous convictions for a variety of offences, including dishonesty and disorder, Sheriff Gillian Wade told him: “Only a custodial sentence is appropriate.”

The jail term was backdated to September 17, when Brown was remanded.

Officers recovered a wrap containing heroin from his underwear