Caol man jailed for eight months for Class A drugs supply offence

A CAOL man has been jailed for eight months after admitting being involved in the supply of the Class A drug diamorphine.

At a court appearance last month, Mark McManus, of Patience Way, had pleaded guilty to the offence, which took place on May 9 this year at MacFarlane Way, Fort William.

McManus, 40, appeared for sentencing at Fort William Sheriff Court this week, when Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald heard how police had found the banned drug hidden in the collar of the accused’s jacket during a search.

Fiscal Depute Robert Weir explained how police had received information about McManus being involved with controlled drugs.

‘Police stopped the accused for the purposes of a search and found nothing of note,’ said Mr Weir.

‘The accused was taken to Fort William Police Station for a more thorough search and it was then they noticed the accused’s black jacket had a lump at the collar.

‘Officers discovered a slit in the collar and on closer inspection this produced a cling-filmed wrap, which is known as a way for drugs to be secreted about a person.

‘Further examination showed this wrap to contain half-an-ounce, about 14 grams, of what turned out to be diamorphine with a value of £400.’

Mr Weir said a subsequent police search of McManus’ home uncovered cling film, small bags and a tick list among items found at the property.

McManus had told the police he used two grams of the drug a day and the quantity found in his jacket collar was for his own personal use.

Defence agent Hamish Melrose told the court the majority of the recovered drug was for his client’s own personal use but that he had intended selling part of it to friends to pay for what he used himself.

‘My client is a single man, aged 40, and has a heroin habit that followed a conviction in 2000 that led to a period in prison of two years and eight months,’ said Mr Melrose.

‘It was during that time that his habit developed and he has struggled with that ever since.

‘To his credit, he had been in touch with the community medical health team and GPs to address these matters, but says the assistance was not there, so he decided to go it on his own and since May says he has not taken any heroin, and that is without the support of doctors or CPNs [community pyschiatric nurses]. He has now been clear of heroin for the last six months.’

Sentencing McManus, Sheriff MacDonald told him it was a very serious offence: ‘Looking to your previous convictions and that you served a period of imprisonment for an analogous offence in 2000, I have no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence of eight months.’