Drug dealer given jail term for offences

A 28-YEAR- OLD Fort William man has been sent to jail for drug offences.

Jamie Lee Paul of 3 Shaw Place, Fort William, was sentenced at the town’s court on Tuesday July 18.

Paul was charged with being concerned in the supply of the controlled drug cannabis, a class B drug, on May 6, 2016, to July 6, 2016, both dates inclusive, at 3 Shaw Place. At the same place and dates, he was further charged with being concerned in the supply of controlled drug cocaine, a class A drug.

Procurator Fiscal David Morton told the court that police received intelligence there were drugs at 3 Shaw Place.

They were granted a drugs search warrant on May 6, 2016, and carried this out at the property which was occupied by Paul, his mother and brother. The police recovered 143g of cannabis at the address, with a value of more than £2,000 and 137g of cocaine worth approximately £7,000.

Paul’s mobile was analysed and was found to contain messages concerned with the supply of drugs to family, friends and acquaintances.

The sheriff was provided with a criminal justice and social work report which was taken into consideration.

Paul’s defence agent said he had been offered a job in Perth, where he had intended to move, which would have removed him from friends in the area which had ‘led him astray’.

His defence lawyer added Paul had ‘grown up and now accepts his responsibility to the court’.

On sentencing Paul, Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald said these were ‘serious matters involving a significant amount of drugs’.

She added: ‘I see no other alternative to a custodial sentence.’

On the first charge, Paul was sentenced to five months in prison and on the second he was sentenced to 12 months.