Addict injected heroin in street

An addict injected himself with heroin in Stirling city centre in broad daylight.

Stuart Kemp, formerly of Cultenhove Road, admitted a charge of possessing diamorphine at an address in Cowane Street on November 29, 2018.

Fiscal depute Lindsey Brooks told Sheriff Pino Di Emidio that officers on foot patrol in Stirling city centre at 1.40pm spotted Kemp injecting into his groin.

When he walked away the police followed him and detained him. He was searched and within his jacket the officers found a wrap of brown powder.

When later analysed it was found to weigh 0.5g and tested positive for heroin. It had a potential street value of £20.

The 37-year-old had also admitted charges of stealing a jacket from the Superdry store in the Thistles on April 28 last year and a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Ms Brooks said that Kemp had been seen by staff picking up two jackets in one hanger and going into the changing rooms. When he came out he was seen with only one jacket in his hand and something under his own jacket.

Kemp was stopped just outside the store and produced the other jacket, valued at £80, from underneath his own jacket.

Police were contacted. Following checks, Ms Brooks said, Kemp was identified from a neck tattoo.

However he provided the wrong details to officers. He had told them he was Andrew Kemp with a different date of birth to his own. Ms Brooks said he had done so “because he was wanted by police in relation to a separate matter.”

His lawyer Frazer McCready told Sheriff Di Emidio that Kemp of Letham View, Tullibody, had a lengthy record including drug offences and crimes of dishonesty.

Sheriff Di Emidio deferred sentence until April 29 for Kemp to be of good behaviour and a supplementary community justice social work report. He was ordered to appear on that date.