News / Jailed after selling heroin to pay off a debt
A MAN from Devon who sold heroin in Lerwick in an effort to pay off a debt has been sent to prison for ten months.
Ian Smith, of Higher Polsham Road, Paignton, previously admitted supplying the class A substance between 8 and 18 November 2015 at Islesburgh House, an address at Ladies Drive and elsewhere.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday that police were called to Islesburgh when the 43 year old got into an argument with his girlfriend.
Upon arrival, officers could clearly see evidence of drug use and recovered just under 12g of heroin, which had a value of around £1,100.
They also found £6,155 in cash – the proceeds of selling the class A drug.
“It is accepted that he was acting on orders. He was taking the risk for someone else and the money would be going back to his paymasters,” Mackenzie said.
Defence agent Gregor Kelly said his client, who appeared in court from custody, had been “full and frank” in explaining his role in the supply of the drugs.
He was offered the opportunity to go to Shetland to sell drugs and he did as a “one-off agreement” to clear a debt.
Smith, who had a “chronic drug misuse problem”, was able to keep whatever drugs that were left over for personal use.
Sheriff Philip Mann said the significance of the drug supply was highlighted by the value of drugs found and the amount of cash recovered.
He added that heroin dealing of any extent is a “serious” offence.
Smith’s ten-month jail sentence was backdated to when he was first remanded in custody on 29 August.
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