Mantook drugsincity centreclose

A Stirling man who alarmed occupants of city centre flats by taking drugs and drinking in their close was this week placed on supervision.

Michael Dornan, of Cruachan Avenue, Cornton, had admitted a charge of conducting himself in a disorderly manner at an address in Murray Place on June 7, 2019, and placing residents there in a state of fear and alarm.

The 43-year-old also admitted a charge of possessing heroin at the Murray Place address on the same date. Dornan had also been on bail on three separate occasions at the time.

In a separate complaint, Dornan pleaded guilty to stealing cosmetics from Poundstrecher in Murray Place on December 9 last year while on bail – as well as a charge of breaching a bail condition, imposed on July 4, 2019, forbidding him from entering Murray Place.

When Dornan appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday for sentence, his agent Virgil Crawford told the court that his client had been engaging with the Community Alcohol and Drugs Service (CADS) voluntarily. He also said that Dornan only had one court matter outstanding.

Mr Crawford added: “He would prefer [these matters] to be brought to an end. He seems to be coping well just now”.

The solicitor further pointed out that there was no ongoing offending relating to drug misuse, drug possession, theft, “or anything of that nature”.

Referring to a progress report for previous community payback orders, Sheriff William Gibson observed Dornan had complied to a “reasonable level”, but “not without difficulty” and “engagement had been superficial”.

Mr Crawford said he had discussed these conclusions with his client.

Sheriff Gibson made a further community payback order, comprising nine months’ supervision, in relation to both complaints.