Heroin helped symptoms of Tourette’s but led to addiction

A TOURETTE’S syndrome sufferer from Derby started smoking heroin to relieve his symptoms which led to a vicious cycle of addiction and crime.

James McDonald soon fell into debt with his dealer, who forced him to sell drugs on the city’s streets.

Derby Crown Court heard how the 27-year-old, of Chester Green, was caught with wraps of both crack cocaine and heroin.

And in November of last year, police in Scotland found cannabis in his underwear when he was taken into custody on an unrelated matter.

Handing McDonald a 16-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, Judge Shaun Smith QC said: “You developed emerging issues with Tourette’s and tics and you had a fit which made those symptoms more severe.

“You decided, as many people do, that heroin stopped those symptoms, and that did for a short moment in time.

“Then you needed some more and you had a debt and they got you involved in selling. You were clearly taken advantage of.”

Tony Stanford, prosecuting, said McDonald, of Magnus Court, was stopped by police in Derby city centre on March 4 this year. He said a search revealed that McDonald was carrying 10 wraps of crack cocaine and 11 wraps of heroin.

Mr Stanford said 20 more wraps were found when they searched his address, along with digital scales, cling film, cigarette papers and £170 in cash.

McDonald pleaded guilty to possession of heroin, possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property.

Simon Stevens, mitigating, said: “He had quite a nasty fit resulting in his Tourette’s symptoms becoming extreme. During the pandemic someone offered him heroin and he smoked it finding that it alleviated his problems quite significantly.

“But he then found himself in debt and on the streets and with an addiction.”

Mr Stevens said McDonald had been on remand for these offences since his arrest in early March, meaning he had already served the equivalent of 12-month immediate term of imprisonment.

As part of the suspended sentence, McDonald must attend 20 rehabilitation sessions with the probation service.