News / Lengthy jail term for Lerwick dealer
A LERWICK drug dealer was sent to prison for three and a half years when he appeared for sentencing at the town’s sheriff court on Wednesday.
Paul Grant, of 57 Burgh Road, had previously pled guilty to supplying cocaine at various places in Lerwick between 4 November 2011 and 25 February last year.
The court heard on Wednesday that Grant started out as the “principal” of a network supplying the class A drug to friends.
At earlier court hearings, the 25 year old had tried to play down his role, however detailed evidence analysis established that his involvement in the illegal trade had grown beyond that.
After finding a bag of cocaine with a street value of £1,638 in his vehicle, police officers searched his home and found a number of mobile phones that suggested he was in control of a tightly knit network of sub dealers.
Defending, solicitor Tommy Allan said his client had found it difficult to accept that he had been “at the top of his own small network”, but did now see that was what he had become.
Allan said his client realised a prison sentence was inevitable, but asked for leniency arguing that there was a low likelihood of him reoffending.
Jailing Grant, Sheriff Philip Mann said that Shetland had a serious drug problem and that it was his public duty to help stamp out that problem.
Lengthy jail term for Lerwick dealer.
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