Pleads not guilty to drug charges

A Wishaw man has denied having Class A and Class B drugs in his possession.

Josh Gerard Coyle, of Glencairn Avenue, Craigneuk, pleaded not guilty to carrying cocaine on November 4 last year at Birkshaw Brae, Gowktrhrapple.

The 20-year-old also denied having herbal cannabis in his possession on the same day.

He is due to stand trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court on September 22.

A man caughtcaug with a machete in broad daylight in WishawWish town centre has beenbee jailed for two years.

James Robert Van Vance pleaded guilty to carrying the black handled dangerousdangerou weapon on Hill Street at aroundaro 3pm on May 12. The court heard how the 32- year- old had c concealed the sharp instrumentinstrum in his backpack on the wa way to meet his social worker in Wishaw.W Plain-clothed office officers stopped Vance and his girlfriendgirlfr after hearing them arguing about the blade. He was also heardhear making reference to going on the run. The officers beli believed that something was not rig right. The co couple were stopp stopped and searc searched and thet h e b l a d e, wh which was wr wrapped in clo clothing, was re recovered fro from Vance’s ba bag. He was ar arrested and re remanded in custody. Vance ha had recently b e en rel released from Ba r l i n n i e Pr Prisoni and wa was ordered to m meet with an appropriateap offi officer in Wisha Wishaw weekly.