Drug dealer is locked up for eight months

A Perth drugs dealer, caught with cocaine and heroin with a street value of more than £1200 at a house in the city, was jailed for eight months at the sheriff court.

Police also seized almost £200 in cash after raiding a property in Whitefriars Crescent.

Forty-four-year-old Michael Kerr, of St Paul’s Square, admitted being concerned in the supply of the two class A drugs on October 24, 2019.

Not guilty pleas were accepted to five other drugs charges by Kerr, including having cannabis and cannabis resin in his possession at his own home and having cocaine, heroin and cannabis at the Whitefriars address the same day. Sentence had been deferred for background reports.

Depute fiscal Robbie Brown told the court that a search warrant was executed at 10am that October morning and the class A substances were discovered in the bedroom.

A total of 8.7 grammes of cocaine, with a potential street value of £820, were seized, along with 14.3 grammes of heroin, estimated to be worth £420.

During interview, the accused accepted the drugs belonged to him.

Solicitor Billy Somerville said his client had accumulated a“substantial amount of debt” due to his gambling.

The accused had stayed out of trouble for some time and there had been“no other significant convictions”since 2010.

He asked that a community payback order be considered as an alternative to jail.

Sheriff William Wood noted that apart from two“minor”drugs possession charges, he had not been back in court.

But he added:“Both of these charges concern class A drugs and being concerned in their supply. I understand you agreed to do that because of your gambling debt.

“I am satisfied, however, there is no proper alternative to custody.”