Mum turned home into a ‘drugs den’

COURT: Esther Amos from Perth is jailed for 12 months

A first-time offending Perth mother who turned her home into a “drugs den” has been jailed.

Perth Sheriff Court heard how Esther Amos, 45, of Dunsinane Drive, embarked on a “significant drugs enterprise” to rake in extra cash. She was found with cannabis with a potential street value of nearly £12,000 in the family home she shared with her husband and two children.

Police swooped on the house in an early morning raid and discovered drug paraphernalia throughout the building. Officers found she had scores of drug-related messages on mobile phones, persuading them she was involved in dealing.

Amos was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

A Perth mother who turned her family home into a drug den has been sent to jail for 12 months.

Perth Sheriff Court heard police raided the house of Esther Amos, 45, in Letham, early one morning and found around 900 grammes of cannabis – a class B drug – with an estimated street value of nearly £12,000.

The household was woken up as officers swooped on the property, finding large bags of the drug in the living-room and two bedrooms.

The court heard that drug paraphernalia was found in the house, including scales, bags and small tins containing cannabis, along with a number of mobile phones.

Depute fiscal John Malpass said police analysed the phones and discovered messages that indicated she was involved in supplying the drug.

Officers found the larger bags of the drug were filled with smaller bags and divided up into deal-sized packages for sale. Police deemed the amount of drugs found far too much for Amos’s own consumption.

Mr Malpass said the family home had been turned into a drug den.

Amos, of Dunsinane Drive, Perth, admitted that she was concerned in the supply of cannabis to others between October 7 and 18 last year.

Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, said it was “frustrating” for first-time offender Amos to be facing sentence when she was in the process of addressing her drug habits.

“It’s very disappointing that she finds herself facing this,” he said.

“But I have warned her of the possible consequences.”

Sentencing Amos, Sheriff Gillian Wade told her: “I think your solicitor has said everything that can be said. It is clear you had a significant drug enterprise going on here – it wasn’t done to feed your drug habit.

“The court has a responsibility to send out a message that drugs should not be in our community and there is no alternative here but a custodial sentence.”

Amos was jailed for 12 months.

It is clear you had a significant drug enterprise going on here – it wasn’t done to feed your drug habit. SHERIFF GILLIAN WADE

Large bags of a class B drug were found at the home of 45-year-old Esther Amos.