Addict turned to dealing

A Perth heroin addict turned to drug dealing to feed his own habit after his methadone prescription was stopped.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that a number of messages were found on a Samsung phone which incriminated 34-year-old Nathan Guthrie in the supply of the class A substance.

That resulted in him being jailed for 12 months at Perth Sheriff Court this week.

Imposing the sentence, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis noted it was his second conviction for such an offence.

Guthrie, of St Catherine’s Road, admitted dealing in heroin from his home between March 31 and April 26, 2017.

Solicitor Linda Clark told the court: “He’s someone who, in the past, has struggled with heroin addiction.”

He had previously managed to get himself on a methadone prescription but in midMarch, 2017, he missed two consecutive appointments which resulted in him being struck off his methadone programme.

His lawyer added: “Thereafter, he had to undergo a further period of assessment before he could be put back on it.”

From the middle of last March, Guthrie had been using two £10 bags of heroin daily.

Ms Clark explained:“His benefit entitlement clearly didn’t allow him to fund such a habit and he got back into supplying drugs, in essence to feed his own habit.”

Although Guthrie wasn’t suitable for unpaid work at this time, he could be considered for supervision and a restriction of liberty order.

But Sheriff Foulis pointed out if he was confined to his home, he might decide to start up his drug-dealing activities again and opted for prison.