Drug addict released after shoplifting

A DRUG addict who breached his bail conditions when he was caught shoplifting last month has been released from jail after two weeks behind bars so that he can tackle his drug problems.

The court heard that 25 year old Matthew Smith, of 13 Grodians, Lerwick, was arrested the day after his last court appearance for drug offences. On Monday he pled guilty to stealing a bottle of shampoo from the town’s Tesco superstore on 24 February.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said that Smith had difficulty breaking the cycle of drug taking because of the people that he surrounded himself with.

However defence agent Tommy Allan said he was receiving support from his fiancé who wanted him to kick his drug taking habits.

Sheriff Graeme Napier read out part of a letter that Smith had written to the court in which he described the unpleasantness of injecting heroin.

Sheriff Napier said: “I am aware that some people in Shetland think that heroin is a glamorous drug. It doesn’t seem to be a particularly glamorous drug to me.”

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The sheriff agreed to place Smith on a drug treatment and testing order, even though his record suggested there was no enough commitment to make it a success.

As such an order cannot be imposed on someone while they are in prison, the sheriff released Smith on bail on condition that he submit himself to a drugs test any time he was asked to by police officers, including in his own home. Sentence was deferred until 23 March.

ends

Copy from Pete Bevington
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