Cocaine dealer is tagged

A drug dealer was caught pushing cocaine in aWishaw car park.

Police officers also found nearly 2000 street valium pills at Graeme Boyd’s Pather home.

Boyd, 33, of Lomond Drive, narrowly avoided a prison sentence at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.

He admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and having etizolam – commonly known as street valium – with intent to supply others.

Police officers in an unmarked vehicle saw him sitting in the driver’s seat of a Ford Focus in a car park in Sommerville Place,Wishaw, on March 27 last year.

Theywatchedhimhandsomething toanothermanwhothenwalkedaway.

The court heard that, when officers identified themselves, Boyd appeared “extremely nervous and agitated”.

They recovered £80 and seven small plastic bags containing white powder from his wallet.

En route to Motherwell Police Station, Boyd’s phone kept ringing and texts appeared on the screen, some of which were clearly related to drug dealing.

The accused’s home was searched and a bag containing 1862 street valium pills was found.These were worth up to £930.

Two sets of digital scales, cut plastic bags and £1225 in cash were also seized.

Defence agent Bobby Reid admitted the offences were serious, but urged Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen not to send Boyd to prison.

Mr Reid told the court:“He has pleaded guilty and has no previous convictions of a similar nature.

“There has been no further offending since March last year.”

Sheriff MacFadyen said prison had appeared“the likeliest outcome”, but he was willing to“step away”from that and impose an alternative.

Boyd will be electronically tagged for 10 months, meaning he’s confined to his homebetween7pmand7ameachday.

The sheriff warned him:“If you fail to comply with this all options, including up to 12 months in custody, will be open.”