News / Isles dealer gets four years
A SHETLAND man was sent to prison for four years yesterday (Wednesday) for dealing heroin from his home address in Lerwick’s Kveldsro Gardens.
Appearing from custody before Lerwick Sheriff Court, Stuart Cameron Bowie pled guilty to supplying the Class A drug between November last year and January this year.
Police searched Bowie’s house on 21 January after receiving a tip-off. They arrested the 39 year old after finding almost 90 grams of heroin with a potential street value of up to £10,000.
The drugs were hidden in three condoms and two Kinder eggs in the bedroom and living room of the flat.
Police also seized £850 in cash, electronic scales and other equipment associated with the illegal drugs trade.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Bowie admitted dealing heroin when interviewed by police officers.
Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said his client had been forced to become involved in dealing to clear a drugs debt of £3,000.
The court heard that Bowie’s own addiction to heroin had ruled his life for the last 15 years, resulting in a previous conviction for culpable homicide for supplying the drug to a friend who also was a heroin addict.
Unable to free himself from his addiction, the court heard that he had already attended treatment programmes while in custody waiting for yesterday’s court appearance.
Sheriff Graeme Napier told Bowie that initially he had considered transferring the case to the high court to allow for a higher sentence.
But after listening to Mr Allan, who had argued that Bowie had not enriched himself, he sentenced him to four years in prison backdated to 21 January, when he was taken into custody.
He also ordered for the dealing equipment and cash to be forfeited.
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