Caught with 100 tablets

Sold class-C sedative to pals

A drug dealer known to the cops was caught with 100 tablets of a class-C drug outside a Stirling health centre.

Richard McLellan, of Lagrannoch Crescent, Callander, had admitted a charge of being concerned in the supply of sedative Eitzolam, in Lower Bridge Street on July 24 this year contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Fiscal depute Ashley Smith told Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday that police officers had observed 45-year-old McLellan and two other males, Stephen McGuigan and Thomas Fullerton, standing in a circle near a wall outside Orchard House that day. All three were known to police for being involved in the supply of controlled drugs in the Stirling area.

On seeing the police car the men stood back against the wall, Ms Smith explained.

McLellan was then searched by police officers. A pink “wrap” was found on him containing two white bags. There were 50 tablets in each bag and each tablet had a ‘10’ marking.

The tablets were found to be Eitzolam. Police Scotland has said the drug is being sold as valium by street dealers. It was one of a range of designer sedatives banned by the UK Government last year.

McLellan’s agent Frazer McCready told Sheriff Christopher Shead that his client was married but his wife was seeking a divorce and wished to relocate to the Netherlands, adding that there was “a distinct possibility” McLellan’s son would be taken out of the country.

As a result McLellan had become very depressed and had relapsed into taking illicit substances.

The solicitor said that out of the 100 tablets McLellan would keep half of them and sell the other half to friends.

With this money he would buy more tablets and the tablets effectively cost him nothing.

Earlier this year McLellan was taken off a methadone prescription and went into “a rapid detox,” Mr McCready pointed out.

Removing methadone had been “a blessing in disguise” said Mr McCready as McLellan “doesn’t want to be addicted to another class-A substance.”

He asked Sheriff Christopher Shead to consider deferring sentence on McLellan for him to be of good behaviour.

Sheriff Shead told McLellan that he was prepared to defer sentence for three months for good behaviour – and to see if McLellan’s health improved to enable him to carry out unpaid work.

If McLellan was successful Sheriff Shead said he might refrain from imposing a custodial sentence which he observed would have consequences for McLellan and his family.

A supplementary report was also called for to examine the question of unpaid work and the case will next call on February 6.

A Crown motion for forfeiture of £130 in cash made at a previous hearing was withdrawn by the fiscal depute.